Environmental Health Section


Welcome!

We are excited that you have joined our section and would like to encourage you to participate as we have ample opportunities to serve. Thanks for joining as your voice makes us stronger.
 
The Environmental Health Section represents the environmental health professional by providing continuing education, presenting various scholarships and awards, and responding to state legislative actions that affect or influence our profession.


Want to Become a Member?

When completing your membership application to join NCPHA, indicate that you want to join the Environmental Health Section by checking the appropriate box and add $10 to the total dues.
 
Questions? Please contact us by email at [email protected]


History

The Environmental Health Section of the North Carolina Public Health Association, Inc. (formerly The Sanitation Section from 1939 until 1969) had its origin in the old Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1939. At that time, Mr. J. M. Jarrett, Assistant to the Director of the Division of Local Health Work, State Board of Health, proposed a change to the NCPHA constitution, whereby all members of the health units would be eligible for membership within their own designated Scientific Section.

Mr. Jarrett selected an organizational committee of sanitarians from all over the state and called a meeting in Greensboro, at which time preliminary plans were laid and the groundwork begun for our present Section.

In 1940, the NCPHA meeting at Pinehurst provided for the creation of Scientific Sections and revised its constitution accordingly. Thus the Section was born. The first official meeting was during the NCPHA meeting in 1941 at Pinehurst. Subjects included a symposium on “Garbage and Refuse Disposal” and a panel discussion on “The Sanitation of Eating Utensils and Glassware.”

Other milestones and significant achievements through the years include:

  • The drafting and subsequent amendments to a near model constitution and by-laws;
  • The selection of a sanitarian, Harold Parker, in 1951 as the first non-medical President of the NCPHA;
  • The adoption of a distinctive seal and emblem, which was designed by J. L. Higgins;
  • The acceptance of a unique Code of Ethics pointing toward the quarterly series of educational meetings designed to promote better sanitation knowledge and techniques;
  • The creation of five component district organizations within the framework of the Section, each with individual leadership and constitution; and the conferring of honorary membership status and deserved recognition on prominent persons outside of public health for outstanding contributions to the field of Sanitation.

The Environmental Health Section of the North Carolina Public Health Association is composed not merely of outstanding leaders, but is firmly anchored in the team concept of all for one and one for all.

Presentations from the 2023 Fall Educational Conference 

Community-focused Efforts to Mitigate the Heatlh Effects of Climate Change

 

Environmental Health Section Leadership for 2023-2024

President:
Amanda Nester

Vice President/Program Chair:
Kathryn Hobby

Secretary/Treasurer:
Ashley Mize

Fall Educational Conference Planning Representative:
Kathryn Hobby

Advocacy Committee Representative:
Amanda Nester

Public Awareness Committee Representative:

 

Tim Pugh and Angela Sowers

Shannon Maloney and Angela Sowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Fall Educational Conference Scholarship Winners:

Rookie EHS of the Year:  Glen Pugh
Practicing EHS Scholarship:  Not given
Stacy Covil Scholarship:  Not given
Tim Hilton Environmental Health Specialist Scholarship:  Shannon Maloney
 

Environmental Health Resource Center - all scholarship applications are due by June 30, 2023

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes:

 

Something New

The Environmental Health Section is proud to announce that another benefactor has helped establish another scholarship for the Environmental Health Section. In 2017, the first Tim Hilton Scholarship was awarded to an EHS meeting the criteria of the award.  The Tim Hilton Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Mr. Tim Hilton in 2016 thanks to a generous gift from his estate.  Mr. Hilton served as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Burke County Health Department for 23 years.  The Tim Hilton Scholarship is to be awarded annually in the amount of $500 at the NCPHA Fall Conference.  The scholarship is to be used for educational expenses such as academic classes directly related to Environmental Health, or for Environmental Health continuing education.  Environmental Health professional within the geographical boundaries of Western District NCPHA are eligible.  This includes the counties of:  Alamance, Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Montgomery, Stokes, Forsyth, Davidson, Stanly, Union, Surry, Yadkin, Davie, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Alleghany, Wilkes, Alexander, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Caldwell, Burke, Cleveland, Rutherford, McDowell, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Haywood, Transylvania, Swain, Jackson, Graham, Macon, Cherokee, and Clay.