Metro Health Director Sammie Areola outlines priorities, warns of federal grant uncertainty

At the Feb. 18 meeting of the Metro Nashville Public Health & Safety Committee, Dr. Sammie Areola, Metro Public Health’s new director, introduced himself and briefed the committee on department priorities and federal funding concerns.

Areola, who said he is in his third week back with the department, reviewed his background and set out core areas of focus. “What we want to do is very easy, which is to create conditions in every part of our county where everyone who walks, lives, plays, visits Nashville has the opportunity to be as healthy as they possibly can,” he said.

Areola told the committee he previously worked at the department from October 2002 until March 2020, then served as director of health in Johnson County, Kan., and in Prince George’s County, Md., before returning to Nashville. He said his approach will emphasize engagement with council members, community organizations and other public entities.

The director identified several priorities the department will pursue: community violence, addiction and drug overdose, and suicide prevention. He said the department will also seek ‘‘upstream’’ interventions—social and structural measures that build resilience and reduce risk factors across neighborhoods.

On federal funding, Areola said his staff is tracking developments and preparing scenarios. He told the committee about recent national staffing reductions and public-health developments, saying there has been “the firing of about 5,000 health… workers across the different departments” and noting shifts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he cited roughly “1,270” early-career EIS officers as a point of change. He also described monitoring a measles outbreak in Texas that he said affected “about 48 persons” and that local health officers there expect the total could rise to “200 to 300 cases.”

“I'm asking staff to proactively prepare all of our grants,” he said. “If we lose 25% of the funding, what are the potential impacts? If we lose 50%, what are the potential impacts?” Areola added that the department will provide weekly updates to the committee as it models grant contingencies.

Committee members asked for follow-up on specific threats and grants. Commander Nash (MNPD) asked whether Areola was worried about grants; Areola replied that the department is tracking federal activity and preparing for multiple scenarios. The conversation also included an exchange about vaccine-preventable outbreaks and the role of immunization in preventing spread.

Areola closed by saying he looks forward to working with the committee and returning for a broader department briefing in the future.

The committee did not take formal action on the director’s remarks; his appearance was presented as an informational update.