Durham County’s New Health Director Rodney Jenkins Ensures Residents During Pandemic
Durham, NC – Who could have forecast that when the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) welcomed its new Health Director Rodney Jenkins on January 13, 2020, it would be at the same time the worst pandemic the world has experienced would be on the horizon? Jenkins replaced Interim Health Director Joanne Pierce, who served in the role following Gayle Harris’ retirement as Health Director and General Manager of Community Health and Well-being for Durham County Government.
On January 25 the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, with which DCoDPH works in coordination, investigated the first possible case of infection with the newly discovered 2019 coronavirus. Since January 2020, Rod Jenkins and the DCoDPH has been in ongoing contact with NCDHHS as NCDHHS leads COVID-19 monitoring and preparedness efforts for the state. DCoDPH ensured residents at that time they would provide informational updates as needed. (weekly update below)
As #COVID19 cases increased nationally, it became more difficult to keep up with what’s true & what to know as a Durham resident. Jenkins started disseminating daily updates in early March after the first COVID-19 case was identified in Durham County. Residents, business owners, healthcare providers, and others have been able and are still able to sign up to receive the daily COVID-19 email updates that best suit their needs.
General public: https://bit.ly/2U4CLIq
Healthcare providers: https://bit.ly/2UtVsEe
Businesses, faith communities, & community agencies: https://bit.ly/394P9w7
En Espanol: https://bit.ly/3bhXwGr
After a joint COVID-19 message from Jenkins and Durham County Manager Wendell Davis on March 20, Jenkins began with weekly video updates on March 28, the same day Durham County announced its Stay-at-Home Order. He continues to deliver updates every Friday. Here is Jenkins’ COVID-19 Weekly Update delivered May 1:
Jenkins comes to DCoDPH from his position as Deputy Health Director for the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, where he served for eight years. Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, and a Master of Health Administration from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. He also served eight years in the South Carolina Army National Guard, earning various awards and decorations.
After accepting the job, Jenkins said, “I look forward to leading a dynamic public health workforce that is committed to excellence in service to the residents of Durham County. I look forward to building on the legacy of purpose-driven, evidence-based creativity in public health delivery.”
Jenkins has proven in his four short months on the job that he can definitely lead…not just his public health workforce but all of Durham County to be and stay healthy, safe, and informed.