The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Public Health Region 5 announced Jan. 25 Lou-Ann Carter to be the new Regional Public Health Director, effective Jan. 17.
Region 5 includes Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties
Carter began her career at DHEC in 1984. For the 17 years she was in Edisto Health District, she worked in the local health departments as a Nutritionist, served as District Director of Health Education and District Systems Developer, the release stated.
In 2001, Lou-Ann was selected to lead the Division of Injury and Violence Prevention as its Director. Since 2006, she has served as the Director for the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.
While at Central Office, she was responsible for the fiscal management of large programs, negotiation with internal and external partners, and supervision of multi-disciplinary teams while continuing to seek new resources.
Lou-Ann is a native of Bamberg County and has been actively involved in community efforts to support healthcare and wellness.
As Regional Health Director she will provide:
• Organizational Leadership by using a balanced blend of motivational and targeted organizational management to provide oversight and budget management for health department programs, including, but not limited to – Public Health Nursing, Immunizations, Women Infants and Children, Children with Special Needs, and Chronic Disease Prevention.
• Community Engagement by working closely with partners to enhance public health service delivery and to leverage resources to improve health at the local level.
• Open Communication through ongoing communication channels among partners and staff. Communicate the health department’s vision by participating in community organizations that support health improvement.
Carter will utilize community assessment and development processes to define, assess and understand the health status of populations and health inequities impacting our region. She will actively work with staff, partners and appropriate health department program areas to improve the health of our community.