D4 Health hosts directors meeting

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Staff report

Attendees to an Aug. 6 statewide District Health Directors meeting in LaGrange at Del’Avant gather for a group photo. Shown are, from left, front row, Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Dr. Diane Weems, Dr. Beverly Townsend, Dr. Lawton Davis, Dr. Alpha Fowler Bryan, Dr. John Kennedy and Dr. Elizabeth Ford; second row, Dr. William Grow, Dr. Zach Taylor, Dr. Wade Sellers, Dr. David Westfall and Dr. Claude Burnett; third row: Olugbenga Obasanjo, Dr. David Harvey and Dr. Lloyd Hofer.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/08/web1_DHD-meeting.jpgAttendees to an Aug. 6 statewide District Health Directors meeting in LaGrange at Del’Avant gather for a group photo. Shown are, from left, front row, Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Dr. Diane Weems, Dr. Beverly Townsend, Dr. Lawton Davis, Dr. Alpha Fowler Bryan, Dr. John Kennedy and Dr. Elizabeth Ford; second row, Dr. William Grow, Dr. Zach Taylor, Dr. Wade Sellers, Dr. David Westfall and Dr. Claude Burnett; third row: Olugbenga Obasanjo, Dr. David Harvey and Dr. Lloyd Hofer.

Submitted

LaGRANGE — District 4 Public Health hosted the statewide District Health Directors meeting in LaGrange for the first time Aug. 6 at Del’avant.

Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, along with district health directors, leaders from the state office and other health representatives who attended were full of compliments of the district’s organization, staff and city, according to District 4 Health officials.

“The location and ambience of Del’avant is ideal for the type of meetings I regularly attend on behalf of District 4. We were able to use a professional facility located in an idyllic downtown, and able to work in a fun, safe and relaxing environment — the essence of what LaGrange offers,” said Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo, district health director of District 4 Public Health in LaGrange, in a written statement.

Speer Burdette, president and general manager of Callaway Foundation Inc., and W.T. Edmondson, chairman of the Troup County Board of Health, welcomed attendees, emphasizing their excitement of the District 4 office’s move to downtown LaGrange.

Burdette mentioned the economic impact District 4’s move would have on the area, bringing about 50 more people during the work week to patronize downtown restaurants and shops. District Health Director William Grow, M.D., of Georgia’s south district in Valdosta, was particularly excited for District 4.

“Well done … appreciate you hosting the DHD meeting and also the introduction to LaGrange; excited for you on the new District building,” he said in a written statement. “Now, if I could figure out how to do some of this way down here in Valdosta!”

The commissioner and other state office executives have promised to host future DHD and state meetings in LaGrange.

“District Health Directors meetings are held to discuss public health topics effecting our community’s health, including anything from hotel regulations and restaurant inspections to contraceptives and IT systems to speed up the processes of appointments to better serve our clients,” said Allie Crawford, accreditation assistant and social media coordinator for District 4 Public Health, in a press relese. “The meeting is centered on how Public Health can inform, prevent and protect the communities in all of Georgia’s 18 districts covering 159 counties. District 4 was privileged to host the event and excited to show other Districts their new building location and plans.”

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.