Office of the Director
Sandra J. Valenciano, MD, MPH
District Health Director and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Valenciano serves as the District Health Director and Chief Executive Officer for DeKalb Health District, District 3-5, in Decatur, Georgia. She oversees public health services for over 760,000 residents in DeKalb County, where more than 130 languages are spoken. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Division of Administration
Dianne McWethy, MPA, CPM
Division Director
Dianne McWethy serves as the Division Director of Administration for the DeKalb Health District 3-5. McWethy is responsible for administrative departments and functional areas including Finance, Internal Services, which includes purchasing, contracts and facilities, Information Technology, Vital Records, Grants Management, Warehouse and Records management. As a public administrator, McWethy has over 30 years of experience in government, with an emphasis in city and county government. She also has experience in elections and library services administration and management.
Division of Clinical Services
Vacant
Division of Community Health
Stefani Carter, MA, CPM
Division Director
Stefani Carter serves as the Division Director of Community Health, which includes oversight of the Health Assessment and Promotion department, Oral Health program, and Maternal and Child Health programs. Carter has served the DeKalb County Board of Health since 2002 in various capacities and is a Certified Program Manager.
Division of Environmental Health
Ryan Cira, MPH
Division Director
Ryan Cira serves as the health district's Environmental Health Director, managing services that include food protection, swimming pools safety, on-site sewage management systems, tourist accommodations, vector control, and lead poisoning prevention. Cira has served the community and the DeKalb County Board of Health for over 30 years.
Office of Communications and Media Relations
Eric Nickens, Jr., MA
Communications and Media Relations Manager
Georgia DPH District 3-5 Public Information Officer
Eric Nickens, Jr., joined the DeKalb County Board of Health in January 2017 and serves as the health district’s Public Information Officer (PIO). With over 15 years of media relations experience, Nickens leads all communications for the agency, including graphic and multimedia production, social media, and website management.
Office of Emergency Preparedness
Bernard Hicks, BS
Emergency Preparedness Manager
Bernard (Bernie) Hicks serves as the health district's Emergency Preparedness Manager, with oversight of several critical preparedness programs: Public Health Preparedness, City Readiness Initiative and Strategic National Stockpile, and Medical Reserve Corps (Volunteer) programs. Hicks is a Georgia Certified Emergency Manager with over 25 years of service as an Emergency Preparedness Manager.
Office of Epidemiology
Calvin Patimeteeporn, MSPH
Interim District Epidemiologist
Calvin Patimeteeporn serves as the Interim District Epidemiologist, leading surveillance for diseases and other health conditions that affect DeKalb residents and all reports of notifiable diseases and outbreaks.
Office of Quality Improvement and Strategy
Vacant
Office of Workforce Development
Michelle Raines
Workforce Development Manager
Michelle Raines leads the Office of Workforce Development, which includes talent management and retention, salary administration, compensation and classification, employee relations, benefits, training and organizational development, employee engagement and recognition, recordkeeping, and compliance. Raines is an accomplished and seasoned human resources professional with over twenty-nine years’ experience in the public and private sectors, 23 years of which she has served as a Georgia state and county employee.