Following the announced retirement of long-time Medical Director Dr. Frederick Johansen from the Berrien County Health Department. the team will welcome Dr. Rex B.G. Cabaltica as the department’s new medical director beginning next week. Dr. Cabaltica succeeds Dr. Johansen who has been with the health department for 44 years, the last 22 of which have been as medical director.
Dr. Cabaltica brings over two decades of medical expertise, health advocacy, and leadership to the Berrien County Health Department (BCHD). In that role, he will provide strategic medical direction to BCHD which provides clinical and community health programs and services such as immunizations, sexual health, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), Children’s Special Health Care Services, and more. Dr. Cabaltica currently practices family medicine at Southwestern Medical Clinic Niles and also serves as medical director for two area skilled nursing facilities, West Woods of Niles and Riverridge Rehabilitation Center in Niles.
Nicki Britten, Health Officer for the Berrien County Health Department, says, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cabaltica to the health department. His passion for public health and advocacy make him a great addition to our team,” and adds, “His mission for attaining an equitable standard of health for all residents is something that BCHD strives to do each and every day.”
Dr. Frederick Johansen says, “After 22 years serving as medical director, I am grateful that this position will be left to such a caring and capable physician,” and adds, “His leadership and vision will be a true asset to the people of Berrien County as well as to the health department in the years to come.”
Born in the Philippines, Dr. Cabaltica actively advocates against implicit bias and racial disparities in health care. He has been active in the practice of clinical medicine in surgery and family practice since 1992. His career has taken him around the world from Egypt to China and back to the United States.
Dr. Cabaltica earned degrees from Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health and Cornell University. Dr. Cabaltica plans on continuing to cover the Walk-In Clinic at Niles Southwestern Medical Clinic as well as to serve as the medical director of West Woods of Niles.
