The Planning, Economic Development and Community Services Committee interviewed and voted to approve Dr. Jewel Crawford for appointment to Post 6 of the DeKalb County Board of Health.

Dr. Jewel Crawford, who identified herself as a physician with a background in family medicine and environmental public health at the Centers for Disease Control and as faculty at Morehouse School of Medicine, told commissioners she would prioritize outreach and use of community health workers to collect neighborhood‑level health data and intervene earlier in conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and pregnancy care.

"We should know in our neighborhoods and precincts… who's pregnant, who's hypertensive, who has diabetes," Dr. Crawford said, arguing for field work and greater reliance on community health workers and school clinics. She cited maternal mortality as a specific priority and said Georgia’s maternal‑mortality rate requires stronger outreach and a pregnancy registry.

The nut graf: Commissioners sought a candidate who would press the Board of Health toward community outreach, preventive services and stronger partnerships with local medical and educational institutions; Dr. Crawford described several concrete priorities commissioners said they supported.

Commissioner Terry asked how Dr. Crawford would operate on the board and press initiatives. Dr. Crawford urged stronger partnerships with county medical institutions and universities, expanded use of community health workers, and early outreach in schools: "You don't need an MD in four years of medical school to take a blood pressure," she said, arguing for lay screening and youth engagement as a pipeline into health careers.

Commissioner Long Spears asked about conflicts of interest. Dr. Crawford said she is a federal employee at the CDC and would follow required outside‑activity reporting and approvals for federal staff serving on local boards.

After questioning, the committee approved the appointment by voice vote. Central staff said they would follow up with Dr. Crawford about onboarding and any required approvals from her federal employer.