DECATUR, Ga. – The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has elected DeKalb County District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., M.B.A., to its 2017-2018 Board of Directors.
NACCHO is governed by a 24-member board that comprises local and tribal health officials who are elected by their peers. The Board also includes ex-officio members who represent the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Ford’s 2-year term as an at-large member began on July 1, 2017.
As the governing body, the Board of Directors establishes NACCHO’s strategic direction and initiatives, sets the annual legislative agenda, approves official statements of policy, ensures that annual goals are met, and provides financial oversight. The Board is NACCHO’s public face, and represents members in matters of policy, public health practice, and collaboration with health partners in the public and private sectors.
Ford has served as the District Health Director and Chief Executive Officer of the DeKalb County Board of Health since February 2005. She manages a diverse array of public health programs that serve over 730,000 people who live in the county.
In 2008, she was asked to serve as the Acting Director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health during the agency’s reorganization and transfer to the Department of Community Health. In this capacity, she helped to develop statewide policies and legislation and enforce public health laws and regulations.
A board-certified pediatrician, Ford received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University, a medical degree from Howard University’s College of Medicine and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Services Administration from Howard University’s Graduate School of Business. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“I am both excited and honored to have been elected to NACCHO’s Board of Directors,” said Ford. “I am looking forward to representing both DeKalb County and Georgia as I assist the agency in continuing to keep Public Health issues a priority on a national level.”
In addition to electing Ford to the board, NACCHO has also announced new officers, at-large, and regional members. A complete list of the Board of Directors can be found here.
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About the DeKalb County Board of Health
The DeKalb County Board of Health works to protect and improve the health of those who live, work and play in DeKalb County, continually striving to meet the varied health needs of all residents. For more information about the services and programs offered by the DeKalb County Board of Health, visit dekalbhealth.net or call (404) 294-3700.
About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.