Meet Our Staff

Sanford Zelnick, D.O., M.S. Director

Dr. Sanford Zelnick attended undergraduate school at Tulane University and completed medical school at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed a Family Practice Residency at the University of Wisconsin and also completed an Occupational Medicine Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. He is board certified in Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine.

Prior to his arrival at the Department of Health in Sumter County in April 2011, Dr. Zelnick completed a 24-year career in the United States Air Force Medical Service and retired with the rank of colonel in 2007. While in the Air Force, Dr. Zelnick served in various assignments dealing with the occupational health of active duty and civilian employees. From 1995-1999, Dr. Zelnick served as consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for Occupational Medicine in Washington D.C. From 2001-2004, he worked at the Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS), and was responsible for medical contingency training, planning, and response in the event of space shuttle mishaps world-wide. For his published review on treatment of potential rocket fuel exposure during this time as well as other contributions to flight safety, he was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award, a distinguished award given by the NASA astronaut corps.

From February 2007 through March 2011, Dr. Zelnick served as a senior physician in the Volusia County Health Department in Daytona Beach.

Dr. Zelnick authored several articles on occupational health. His original research concerning field of vision studies of industrial respirators was recognized as the best paper published in the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal for 1994 by the
Michigan Industrial Hygiene Association. This work is also referenced in an official position statement concerning visual safety by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

His current areas of special interest concerning public health are the reduction of health disparities within Sumter County, the pursuit of health department accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board, and the development of academic-public health
partnerships with local universities and academic centers.

Keith Hunter, MPH, CPH Assistant CHD Director

Mr. Hunter attended undergraduate school at the University of Florida and graduate school at the University of South Florida obtaining a Master of Public Health Degree in 1994. Mr. Hunter has over 20 years public sector experience beginning his public health career at Lake County Health Department as Environmental Health Specialist. Mr. Hunter came to Sumter County Health Department in 1999 as Environmental Manager and remained in that role until 2008 when he was promoted to his current position, Assistant Director. Mr. Hunter's responsibilities include overall management and supervision of Finance & Accounting, Health Education, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Information Technology and Preparedness, as well as leading national accreditation efforts and major prevention initiatives. Mr. Hunter obtained public health certification (CPH) in February 2012 from the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Leah Rayno, BSN, RN Director of Nursing

Mrs. Rayno attended school at Pasco-Hernando Community College obtaining an Associates of Arts Degree. In 2000 a Nursing Degree was obtained from Central Florida College in Ocala. She then obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of South Florida.  Mrs. Rayno started her nursing career as a Registered Nurse working on the surgical floor at Citrus Memorial Hospital.

After obtaining a years hospital experience, Mrs. Rayno joined the State of Florida Department of Public Health in January 2001 at Sumter County Health Department as a clinical RN. In 2006, Mrs. Rayno was promoted to Nursing Director the position she currently holds.

Mrs. Rayno currently serves as a member on the Lake-Sumter Community College Advisory Committee and is a general member of Central Healthy Start Coalition.

Mr. Witzgall attended undergraduate school at North Carolina State University earning B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pulp & Paper Science in 1996.  While working as an Environmental Lab Tech for Crane & Co., he earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2001 as well as up to a Grade 6C Wastewater License certification in 2003.  In the Fall of 2006, Mr. Witzgall began working for the Florida Department of Health in Sumter County and was Certified as an Environmental Health Professional in Onsite Sewage and Food Protection in 2007.  In addition to becoming a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Registered Sanitarian, in 2008, he completed the inaugural DOH Leadership Institute certification in 2012 as well as the requirements to be a Food Hygiene Coordinator in 2016.  He currently works in and oversees the Onsite Sewage, Water, Public Pools, Food Hygiene, SUPER Act & Well Surveillance, Rabies, and Biomedical Waste Environmental Health programs as well as being a volunteer strike team member for emergencies.  He is also a board member and treasurer of the local Adoption2Action agency based out of Sumter County.

Megan McCarthy, MPH, CPH Biological Scientist IV

Megan obtained her B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 2015. Prior to obtaining her Masters in Public Health from the University of Florida in 2019, Megan worked as a veterinary technician at an emergency practice and went to veterinary school for one year before deciding to pursue public health. Megan began working for the Sumter County Health Department in 2018. Megan became certified by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and obtained her CPH certificate in 2019. Megan worked as a Senior Health Educator in Epidemiology and as a Public Information Officer (PIO) from 2018 to Summer 2020. In 2020, Megan was promoted to Biological Scientist II and maintained that role until Spring 2021 when she was promoted to her current position as a Biological Scientist IV. In her current role, Megan is responsible for investigating the distribution and determinants of disease prevalence in Sumter County to determine and describe means for detection, prevention, intervention and control of health problems as well as supervising the epidemiology team in disease investigations and surveillance.

Robbin Washburn Operations & Manangment Consultant II

In 2001, Mrs. Washburn started her career with Florida Department of Health in Sumter County working in the Environmental Health department.  In 2006, Mrs. Washburn was promoted and managed the IT department.  In 2015, Mrs. Washburn started working in her current role and is responsible for overall management of the IT department as well as Health Education outreach programs.