Clyde L. Reese, III, Esq., Commissioner	Sonny Perdue, Governor

DCH Announces Election of Advisory Council for Public Health Members

ATLANTA –The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Henry M. Patton, M.D. as chair and Dr. Jean R. Sumner, M.D. as vice chair of the newly formed Advisory Council for Public Health (ACPH).  The creation of the Council, as well as the July 1, 2009 transition, is in response to House Bill 228, which instructed the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to transfer all matters relating to public health to DCH.

The Council is responsible for providing assistance and guidance to the Division of Public Heath and DCH on all matters regarding public health programs, which include Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Maternal & Child Health, Infectious Disease and Immunizations, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, the State Laboratory Programs, and Vital Records.  

The eight council members, appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue, shall serve one or two year terms.  Council members are as follows:

Henry Patton, M.D. – Chair
Jean Sumner, M.D. – Vice Chair
Harry Hannon, Ph.D.
Robert S. Harshman, M.D.
John T. Holloway, M.D.
Allison J. Koenig, M.D.
Thomas H. Callaway, M.D.
Monica M. Farley, M.D.

For more information about this and other Public Health Initiatives, visit www.health.state.ga.us.