• By Todd Luck
• Posted Friday, November 16, 2018

Joshua Swift becomes new Public Health director

Joshua Swift started his role as the county’s new Public Health director this week.

Swift, who joined the county on Nov. 13, introduced himself to Forsyth County commissioners at their Thursday briefing. He’s taking charge of a department with a variety of services dedicated to disease prevention and improving the public’s health..

“Public health affects everyone everyday, whether you’re eating at a restaurant or got a vaccine when you were an infant that prevented disease,” Swift told the commissioners..

He said his priorities include addressing the underlying aspects that affect health and increasing community outreach. .

“I want to get out into the community and make sure everyone knows all that we’re doing, that we’re already doing, and improve that and be more visible in the community,” he said..

Swift plans to use social media and traditional media to inform the community about the services the health department offers. He also hopes to form new partnerships to ensure that factors that affect health, like housing and transportation, are considered in future development..

Swift was most recently the health director of Caldwell County. He’s previously served as deputy health director in New Hanover and health director in Stokes County. He also worked for the health departments in Wilkes and Iredell counties..

Swift has a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from Appalachian State University and a Master in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. He is the past president of the N.C. Public Health Association (NCPHA). Swift replaces Marlon Hunter, who stepped down in August to be chief executive of ReGenesis Health Care in South Carolina. .