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A resolution identifying the skills and qualities needed for Nashville's next Director of the Metro Public Health Department.
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WHEREAS, the mission of Metropolitan Public Health Department ("MPHD") is to protect, improve, and sustain the health and well-being of all people in Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, since 2021, over 700 people have died annually from drug overdoses in Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, since 2022, 228 people have been fatally shot in Nashville and Davidson County, including six students, faculty, and staff members during the March 2023 Covenant School shooting; and
WHEREAS, in order to effectively address the crisis of community violence, MPHD relies on the important work of partner organizations including Raphah Institute, The F.I.N.D Design, Why We Can't Wait, as well as all member organizations of "The Village", a community of over 150 grassroots non-profit organizations actively working to improve the lives of residents through education, economic opportunity, housing, restorative justice, and health care; and
WHEREAS, in addition to federally designated public health crises like opioids and gun violence, on September 17, 2024, the Metropolitan Council adopted a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, complex problems require innovative data-driven solutions, and MPHD plays a crucial role in protecting the health and well-being of our community; and
WHEREAS the Director of Health is a vital leadership position within MPHD and the Metropolitan Government, and requires a skilled and experienced individual who is not only enthusiastic about the needs of the community but also has the skill to guide its operations and initiatives and build external partnerships; and
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2024, current Director of Health Dr. Gill C. Wright, III, announced that he would not seek an extension of his contract, which was approved by Resolution No....
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