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Dave
Rice
New Hanover County Department of Public Health
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New
Hanover County Health Director, Dave Rice, has been named North Carolina's
Health Director of the Year. The North Carolina Health Director of
the Year Award is sanctioned by the North Carolina Association
of County Commissioners (NCACC) and implemented through the North
Carolina Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD), an affiliate
of the NCACC.
2007 has been
an award winning year for Mr. Rice. He was selected to win the
esteemed Ham Steven's Award for NC this year as well. Just of a
few of the accomplishments that earned Mr. Rice the award were
his commitment to make the health department more efficient and
effective to impact the community. Under Mr. Rice's
leadership the department was totally reorganized. All clinic services
are offered every day as opposed to certain clinics on a few days
of the week. The number of customers seen in a given day has almost
doubled with the same amount of staff. In March of 2007 Mr. Rice
was the Incident Commander for one of the largest full-scale mass
dispensing exercises in the state. The health department worked with
22 other agencies to conduct a drive through mass dispensing site,
which served 1272 people in just 2 hours. These types of exercises
are critical to prepare in case of pandemic flu or other emergency
situations.
The New Hanover County Health Department volunteered as one of the
first six pilot counties to undergo and receive accreditation in
the state. The department passed with flying colors and is currently
working on re-accreditation.
Personally Mr.
Rice has served as a deacon at his church in Wilmington. He has always
supported staff in fund raising efforts for the March of Dimes, Asthma,
Heart Walk, American Cancer Society and various other fundraisers.
He serves as a board member for the North Carolina Maritime Committee
hosted by the State Port. He serves as a board member for Coastal
AHEC and he is a Red Cross VIP Giver for being a dedicated blood
donor. Among those present at the award presentation in Raleigh were
the Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Health, Dr. Ed Weaver,
Mr. Rice's wife Linda, his daughter Kristen and the Health Department's
management team. Mr. Rice commented that none of these accomplishments
would have been possible without the support of the New Hanover County
Board of Health, the county's support and understanding and the
great staff that is currently in place at the health department.
