NCPHD welcomes new director

THE DALLES, OR - North Central Public Health District's (NCPHD) Board of Health has appointed Martha McInnes, BSN, RN, as the organization's new director. NCPHD has been seeking to fill the role since outgoing director Shellie Campbell announced her retirement in July this year. With Campbell staying on until her replacement was found, NCPHD has maintained continuous strong leadership.

Campbell said, "Martha has been with NPCHD over three years, joining our team during a very challenging time, the COVID pandemic. She immediately stepped in and led the mass vaccination clinics. It was a huge undertaking."

As the clinical program supervisor, McInnes oversees the medical clinic, Nurse Home Visiting program, and the Communicable Disease (CD) team. Campbell said, "She has implemented many improvements in all three programs she manages, including the billing system, a new electronic medical record (EMR) system, CD reporting and data tracking, and Home Visiting charting and work flows. Beyond that, she has played an integral role in the leadership team, crafting policy, improving systems, lifting up staff, hiring and training new staff, developing community relationships, and strengthening our current partnerships."

Campbell added, "Martha has a passion for public health and is an ideal candidate to step in and continue to lead the great work happening at NCPHD. I am thrilled she has accepted the appointment."

The Board of Health, which is made up of elected officials and citizens from Wasco and Sherman counties, announced McInnes' acceptance of the appointment at this month's public Board of Health meeting on Oct. 8.

McInnes said, "I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead such a talented and dedicated team. I'm excited to see what we can do to better serve our community in the coming months and years. And, I welcome feedback and input from the community."

For more information, please contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600 or visit http://www.ncphd.org.