CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) – It’s been one year since the Coastal Health District appointed its first ever Black director.
“It flew by. They say time flies when you’re having fun, I guess,” Dr. Bonzo Reddick said.
Dr. Bonzo Reddick reflecting on his first year as the director of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Coastal Health District.
He says what sticks out most to him in these past 12 months is the transition out of the public health emergency.
“I kind of came in and we were still in the middle of the Covid-19 public health emergency and a few months into the job was the end of that.”
“Having that transition where we’re trying to adjust to what people call the new normal has been very, very important work.”
“He says the most rewarding part of starting out this new role has been getting to know the community members in each of the eight counties the Coastal Health District supports.”
“You’re talking about, you know, six to seven-hundred thousand people as far as the citizens represented by those districts. Almost 400 employees in our Department of Public Health in this district.”
He says being able to build those connections helps him to introduce folks to the different resources all around them.
“Connecting folks with some of the academic institutions we have partnerships with or connecting people with community workers and community advocates and community organizations that are doing work.”
Something he says he’s looking forward to continue doing as long as he holds this role.
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