When the double threats of West Nile virus and anthrax hit Howard County last year, Dr. Penny E. Borenstein was at the center of the maelstrom - first as the county health official in charge of community health services and since December as acting county health officer.

Now she has been chosen by County Executive James N. Robey as permanent head of the Health Department, if the County Council approves a resolution introduced last night.

The appointment is then technically made by the state secretary of health and mental hygiene. Borenstein, a pediatrician, would succeed Dr. Diane L. Matuszak, who left to become director of the Maryland Community Health Administration.

"She's done a very good job," said Raquel Sanudo, chief county administrative officer, who helped select Borenstein as part of a six-member committee. "She and Dr. Matuszak were both at the table when we had the 9-11 situation."

The position pays $123,000.

"I'm very excited about it," said Borenstein, 41, of Baltimore, who has been doing the job for five months. "I love the ability to affect the lives of the many rather than the individual - systemic change."

The Long Island, N.Y., native was with the Baltimore City Health Department for seven years and also worked in the Pennsylvania Department of Health. She was among three people recommended from five finalists, Sanudo said.

Borenstein earned an undergraduate degree at Cornell, a medical degree at State University of New York's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and a master's in public health from the Johns Hopkins University.

She said her goal is "to see the department move into the new century" with more advanced information technology and to create "a strong educational component, cancer prevention/ anti-smoking programs and a [public] dental clinic."

She wants to "enhance disease surveillance systems and staff training so we are prepared to respond to outbreaks and emergencies," and help uninsured people with services such as immunization, prenatal care and substance abuse treatment.

Howard's 8-month-old anti-smoking program for county workers is considered a model, offering paid work time for meetings, health testing, nicotine patches and other medication to help people stop smoking. If the program remains successful, it could be offered to private companies.

The council will vote on the resolution next month.