Linn County announces new Public Health director

Linn County is pleased to announce the hiring of Pramod Dwivedi (pronounced Prahmode Dwihvedee) as the new Director of the Linn County Public Health Department (LCPH). He will join LCPH on April 16. Dwivedi comes to the Department with extensive experience in public health practice both at the local and state levels.

His leadership experience includes directing major units such as Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for Chicago Department of Public Health (with a budget of $13 million and 55 employees), Chronic Disease Epidemiology Division at Indiana State Department of Health, and Surveillance Epidemiology and Evaluation at Tennessee Department of Health. He has also directed the Epidemiology Division for Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department in Lincoln, Neb. and most recently served as the Chief of Epidemiology at the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis, Tenn.

Dwivedi has served on the National Association of County and City Health Officials' (NACCHO) advisory committee on Community Health Prevention, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Maternal and Child Health Award Committee. He was invited by NACCHO to speak on building and developing epidemiologic and Healthy People capacity at the local level and was also consulted by the CDC on the use of Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for local jurisdictions. He has published numerous public health reports and presented his research papers to the American Public Health Association, elected officials and other stakeholders. He holds several master's degrees including one in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa and currently is a doctoral candidate in public health leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dwivedi is married and has two teenagers.

“We look forward to having Pramod join the Linn County community and bring his extensive experience to this leadership position. Public health is a critical role, and Pramod's experience and skills will be a tremendous asset as we continue our work to prevent illness and chronic diseases and improve the public's overall health and well-being,” said Linda Langston, Linn County Supervisor and member of the Linn County Board of Health.

“I am truly honored to have been selected to lead the Linn County Public Health Department. I look forward to working with the staff, Board of Health, and many individuals and organizations in Linn County. Building and fostering partnerships are critical components in achieving successful public health programs, which improve the health of all Linn County residents,” said Dwivedi.