Biography - Director of Health & Social Services Laurence Burnsed

Laurence Burnsed was appointed as Director of Health and Social Services on November 30, 2020. He is responsible for all financial, programmatic, and managerial aspects of an urban human services department comprised of five divisions encompassing environmental health, health administration, community nursing services, public health preparedness, social services, and a regional federally-funded Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC).

Prior to working for the Town of East Hartford, Mr. Burnsed served as an epidemiologist for 18 years for the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), including 12 years as the director of the OSDH Communicable Disease Division where he was responsible for the oversight and administration of infectious disease surveillance, investigation and control activities for the State of Oklahoma.  During his time with OSDH, Mr. Burnsed also served as the State Epidemiologist and Deputy Commissioner for Prevention & Preparedness Services.  Responsibilities included administrative and epidemiological guidance of services responsible for the surveillance, investigation, and control of infectious diseases; response to disease outbreak events; injury surveillance and prevention program activities; immunization services; state public health laboratory operations; and involvement of all-hazards preparedness and response efforts.

Mr. Burnsed holds an MPH Degree from the Florida A&M University Institute of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Florida State University.  He is currently enrolled in the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business Master of Business Administration program for professionals.