Harrison County Health Department announces leadership transition

The Harrison County Board of Health announced a leadership transition at the Harrison County Health Department effective Jan. 1.

The board also thanked Dr. Dan Jones for his service and leadership during the past year as health commissioner and medical director.

At a special meeting Dec. 5, the board approved a transition that reflects the department’s continued growth and commitment to public health. Katie Norris, who has served as deputy health commissioner since March 2023, was hired to serve as health commissioner.

Jones said he is pleased to hand over the responsibilities to Norris.

“Katie has done a fantastic job in her role and continues to illustrate her commitment to disease prevention, health promotion, education and community collaboration, all integral traits to leading in public health,” Jones said.

“Our goals as we move into the new year will be continued growth of public health services within Harrison County, in addition to program development and strengthening collaboration with our community,” Norris and Jones said.

Jones will transition fully into the role of medical director, where he will continue to provide medical guidance, work closely with the nursing division and help shape the health department’s strategic vision and community integration.

“As a committed advocate to public health, we are excited that Dr. Jones has decided to transition to the very important role of medical director,” Board of Health President Scott Pendleton said. “We consider him an outstanding member of our team and thank him for his leadership and advocacy.”

Norris thanked the board for its confidence and recognized the work of health department staff.

“Our team has put forth a lot of effort this past year to increase the department’s presence within the community,” she said. “We have goals to continue bringing awareness of our programs and services in the new year. It’s very meaningful to me for the opportunity to step into this role and continue working alongside this team to serve the residents of Harrison County.”

For more information, contact the Harrison County Health Department at 740-942-2616.