Name: Colin Wilcox
Department: Department of Health
Tell us about what you do with the County: I work in the Livingston County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Some of the things I do is review all recent Blood Lead Level Tests that are done on all Livingston County residents for children and people under 18 years old. Any Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) that are above 5 micrograms per deciliter is considered elevated and therefore is an active case until we get the BLL under 5 on two separate tests that are at least 3 months apart. A few ways we reduce lead exposure is by providing education to the parents and/or guardians about how to properly clean so we do not make the lead exposure worse and to increase Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron in the child's diet as those are known to bind with any lead in your system and get it out of the body. We also work with Genesee Department of Health to conduct an environmental assessment of the home. This involves using an XRF gun which can analyze and see if any of the paint in the home has lead in it, as well as taking dust and soil samples to see if there is any lead in them.
What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? I love how versatile this job is. Some days I am at my desk for most of the day conducting data analysis or working on projects and other days I am doing outreach events or collaborating with other programs to improve both programs. I love that everyday I am learning something new and interesting.
Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? I am happy that I was able to collaborate with a few counties and Cornell University to offer a free Lead Renovator course for the county. I am also proud that we have created a Lead GIS Mapping App to analyze any lead concerns we have in the county.
Favorite sports team, if any? Boston Red Sox.
Favorite hobby? I am a new father so I love playing pretend and doing crafts with my son.
If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? Pan's Labyrinth, Fahrenheit 451, and "Picaresque" by The Decemberists
Best place in the County to relax? Al Lorenz Park
What’s something unique about you people would never guess just by looking at you? Before I got my bachelor's degree in Public Health, I originally went to school as a double major in Political Science and Philosophy because I wanted to become a Public Defender