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Today we join the nation in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a day for quiet reflection, memory, and inspiration. Please be reminded all our public health offices, departments, and services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be closed today in observance of this special occasion. Learn about the life and legacy of Dr. King at https://www.dodea.edu/news/observance-calendar/martin-luther-king-jr-day.
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North Georgia - We will be CLOSED on Monday, January 20, 2025, for the national observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The North Georgia Health District office, health departments, environmental health offices, WIC program, and all other public health programs and services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be closed in respectful honor of this day. The Living Bridge Center clinics (@thelivingbridgecenter) in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville will also be closed. We look forward to resuming all our services to the public as normal on Tuesday, January 21st. #MLKDay #mlkday2025
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North Georgia – The North Georgia Health District has lifted the delayed openings for health departments in Fannin and Pickens counties, and the previous closure of the Gilmer County Health Department has also been removed. As of Tuesday, January 14, 2025, public health services will be available during regular clinic hours in all our counties, which include Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield. These services include County Health Departments, WIC, Environmental Health, and The Living Bridge Centers in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville.
We encourage residents to drive cautiously as road conditions continue to improve.
For more information about our public health services and locations in each county, please visit our website home page at www.nghd.org.
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🚨 UPDATE FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH 🚨
Due to the potential for residual icy road conditions tomorrow, Monday, January 13th, Fannin and Pickens County Health Departments will delay opening until 10 AM. Gilmer County Health Department will remain closed all day. These delays and closure also include WIC services and the Environmental Health offices in each of these counties.
Currently, our health departments and services in Cherokee, Murray, and Whitfield Counties will operate as normal on Monday during their regular hours.
For updates, please continue to visit the North Georgia Health District website here in our News Section and scrolling media alerts at top on our home page.
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NORTH GA - Due to the expected hazardous weather conditions tomorrow, Friday, January 10th, the North Georgia Health District office in Dalton and all public health facilities and services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be closed. This closure includes the health departments in each county as well as environmental health offices and WIC services. The Living Bridge Centers in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville will also be closed.
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As the new year begins, January marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month—a vital opportunity to highlight the importance of prevention, screening, and education surrounding cervical cancer. This month serves as a reminder that proactive measures can significantly lower your risk of cervical cancer, and it all starts with understanding the power of regular screenings.
Cervical Cancer and Its Prevention
Cervical cancer is often preventable, and one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is by getting screened regularly, beginning at age 21. For residents in North Georgia, reaching out to your local Health Department in counties such as ours in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, or Whitfield can provide you with essential information on how to receive the HPV vaccine or undergo cervical cancer screening.
The Importance of Screening Tests
Two key screening tests play a crucial role in detecting cervical cancer early: the HPV test and the Pap test (Pap smear).
- HPV Test: This test identifies the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that can lead to cell changes on the cervix.
- Pap Test: This examination looks for precancerous cell changes that, if left untreated, could develop into cervical cancer.
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This applies to all public health services and programs in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties, including our district office, health departments, environmental health offices, WIC services, and The Living Bridge Centers located in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville.
For the list of all 2024 U.S. Federal Holidays, please visit www.ca2.uscourts.gov/clerk/calendars/federal_holidays.html.
See you Tuesday!
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Update—Thurs. 12:30 PM, 9/26/2024:
Jasper, GA—Pickens County Health Department closed early today, Thursday, September 26th, because of the anticipated hazardous weather conditions. This closure also includes WIC and Environmental Health services in Pickens County.
As a reminder, the North Georgia Health District issued a district-wide media release yesterday stating that all public health services within the district will be closed on Friday, September 27th, due to the storm. The district includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
All updates are posted to the North Georgia Health District website at www.nghd.org and on the district’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
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Update—Thurs. 9:10 AM, 9/26/2024:
Blue Ridge, GA—Due to predicted hazardous weather conditions, the Fannin County Health Department will CLOSE at noon today, Thursday, September 26th. This also includes WIC and Environmental Health services.
The North Georgia Health District announced yesterday in a districtwide media release that all public health services within the district will be closed on Friday, September 27th. The district includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
All updates are posted to the North Georgia Health District website at www.nghd.org and on the district’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
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Update—Wed. 8 PM, 9/25/2024:
Chatsworth, GA—The Murray County Health Department and Environmental Health Office, along with WIC services in Murray, will now be CLOSED both Thursday, Sept. 26th and Friday, Sept. 27, due to the potential for hazardous weather conditions.
All updates will be posted here and on our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Update—Wed. 4 PM, 9/25/2024:
North GA—Due to potentially hazardous weather conditions, all public health facilities in North Georgia Health District 1-2 will be CLOSED on Friday, September 27, 2024. This includes the district office in Dalton, all health departments, WIC offices, and Environmental Health offices in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties, and The Living Bridge Centers in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville.
All updates for the North Georgia Health District will be posted here and to our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
North GA - Teresa Costa, MPH, an esteemed Emory Epidemiology Fellow at the North Georgia Health District, has been honored with the prestigious Community Engagement Award from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health for 2024. This accolade is bestowed upon a fellow whose exceptional work embodies the principles of community service, recognizing those who have fostered strong connections between their health district and the community through impactful public health initiatives.
Teresa's remarkable community engagement efforts over the past year included spearheading a collaborative endeavor to develop and implement a critical community needs assessment. Despite the availability of prevention, testing, and treatment resources at low cost through the health department, Cherokee County witnessed a concerning 45% surge in confirmed syphilis cases from 2019 to 2022. This uptick
Rollins Epidemiology Fellowship Community Engagement Award 2024
disproportionately affected historically marginalized populations, including Hispanic and Black non-Hispanic individuals, as well as people from the MSM (men who have sex with men) and PWID (people who inject drugs) populations.
After successfully obtaining The Community Engagement to Strengthen Approaches to Decrease Syphilis Grant from NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials), Teresa played a crucial role in initiating a comprehensive community needs assessment campaign named "Using Community Informed Methods to Reduce Syphilis in Cherokee County" to identify barriers to care. Collaborating with the health district staff and community partners such as Cherokee Focus, the Cherokee County Health Department, and The Living Bridge Center South, a community needs assessment survey was published online and was promoted through paid and unpaid ads on various social media platforms. Additionally, flyers offering access to the survey via a QR Code link were widely distributed. The campaign specifically targeted the historically marginalized populations.
K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhDDalton, GA - The North Georgia Health District is pleased to announce the appointment of K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhD, as the district’s new Health Director. Dr. McNeill brings a wealth of experience and expertise in preventive medicine and public health to the six-county health district based in Dalton, Georgia, comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
Dr. McNeill received his medical doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1975, preceded by a PhD in medical parasitology from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1971. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Mississippi State University, which he earned in 1968.
With 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Army as a Preventive Medicine Physician, Dr. McNeill retired as a Colonel. His career includes various leadership roles in both the military and public health sectors, such as Senior Medical Officer at the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency, Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Uganda, Chief of Preventive Medicine Service at various military medical centers, Senior Public Health Physician of the Mississippi State Department of Public Health, and Medical Epidemiologist of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Throughout his career, Dr. McNeill has contributed to numerous publications and served on federal advisory committees, demonstrating his commitment to advancing public health initiatives and improving healthcare systems.
In his new role as Health Director of the North Georgia Health District, Dr. McNeill will lead efforts to promote community health and wellness, implement preventive health programs, and address public health challenges in the region. His extensive experience and dedication to public service make him a valuable spearhead of the district's leadership team.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mills McNeill as our new Health Director," said Louise Hamrick, Deputy Director, North Georgia Health District. "His outstanding qualifications and proven track record in the military and public health make him the ideal candidate to lead our district and support our mission of improving the health and well-being of our community."
Dr. McNeill’s appointment is effective immediately, and he is eager to collaborate with local stakeholders, healthcare providers, and community members to enhance health outcomes and promote a culture of wellness in the North Georgia Health District.
For more information about the North Georgia Health District and its wide range of public health services at the district and county levels, please visit www.nghd.org.