Robert Palussek, BA

Robert Palussek, BA is the Administrator of Highland County Health Department, Florida. Mr. Palussek became the Administrator of the Highlands County Health Department in 2008. Before his appointment to this position, he served for two years as the Finance and Accounting Director for the Highlands County Health Department. Starting his public health career at the Monroe County Health Department he functioned for two years as Senior Management Analyst having been responsible for all budgetary activities. As a certified bank merchant he has worked for ten years in the corporate banking environment in Germany. He earned his associate’s degree in banking from Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce in 1996. He spent the year 1997 with the Federal Defense Forces of Germany and received honorable discharge as lance corporal. In 2002 he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Academy for Administration and Economics, Baden. (U.S. equivalency summary) He is a Graduate (Co-Salutatorian) of the Florida Public Health Leadership Institute through the University of South Florida in 2009 and the National Public Health Leadership Institute through the University of North Carolina in 2010. Mr. Palussek’s biggest accomplishment, at the Highlands County Health Department during his tenure, is the expansion of services due to the opening of a new service site in Avon Park in 2009 which provides children’s dental services and WIC. Mr. Palussek is section chair for administration for the Florida Public Health Association and Executive Board member-at-large for the Florida Association of County Health Officers. He further serves as Treasurer for the Heartland Rural Health Network, and member-at-large for the Children’s Services Council for Highlands County.