Jefferson County, Colo. - Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is excited to announce a finalist candidate for the currently open Executive Director position. Dr. Sarah Story, Ph.D., MPP, MPH, will be completing the multi-step, comprehensive interview process with JCPH this week.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, JCPH has seen several significant changes in its leadership and structure, including the development of the Senior Leadership Team, which has been instrumental in the governance, strategy and planning of JCPH in recent years. The Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Health have both been very involved in the Executive Director recruitment process and are committed to bringing on a high-quality leader that can help JCPH execute its mission of promoting and protecting health for all people. JCPH recently hired an interim Executive Director, Jeff Zayach, to help facilitate the transition and onboarding of a full-time, permanent director once one could be hired.
“The work being done every day at JCPH is vital to helping ensure our community is as safe and healthy as possible. Bringing on board a visionary and effective executive director will benefit not only the organization and its staff, but also the Jeffco community as a whole,” said Cheri Jahn, President of the Jefferson County Board of Health. “The Board is excited to announce Dr. Story as our finalist candidate, and we are looking forward to continuing this important process.”
Dr. Story, who grew up in central California, earned a Master of Public Policy, a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and a PhD in Policy Analysis from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused her research on the ways social and economic opportunity impact health disparities. She has continued that focus on health equity through her career, first working as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri, then as the deputy director of the Kansas City, Mo., Health Department. In addition, Dr. Story served on the Kansas City Health Commission, the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts and on the board of directors of University Health.
“Dr. Story is a talented and respected public health professional, and we are thrilled to announce her as a finalist because we believe her expertise, experience and insight could truly make a difference and support JCPH in transforming public health in a post-COVID-19 world,” said Jeff Zayach, Interim Executive Director at JCPH. “Her focus on health equity and service-driven mindset have set her apart and make her a unique and promising candidate to serve the needs and priorities of the Jeffco community.”
If the candidate is the final selection for the role, a public meeting will be held, and additional information will be made available.
About Jefferson County Public Health
Public health is what we do collectively to prevent illness and premature death and promote health in our neighborhoods and communities. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is a nationally accredited health department committed to promoting and protecting health across the lifespan for all people through prevention, education and partnerships. To learn more about JCPH visit https://www.jeffco.us/public-health. You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH [external link], Instagram @JeffcoPH [external link] and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth [external link].