Mecklenburg County names Dr. Kimberly Scott Stern its public health director

County Manager Bridal announced the appointment of Dr. Kimberly Scott Stern as Mecklenburg County's new public health director during the manager's report. Bridal said Dr. Scott had served as interim director for six months, joined the county in 2022 and brings more than 15 years of public-health leadership experience.

Bridal said Dr. Scott "has helped transform public health's approach to community health improvement by advancing collective impact, strengthening community engagement, and fostering partnerships" and noted she led a team of nearly 1,000 public-health staff and guided responses to outbreaks including measles and cyclosporiasis.

Dr. Scott, who took the podium to accept the appointment, said, "It is an honor to be your next public health director." She described a personal motivation for the work — recalling the unexpected death of her father — and credited early work as a teen peer educator in rural Georgia with setting her on a public-health path.

In the announcement, the manager listed Dr. Scott's academic credentials: a bachelor of science from Albany State University, a Master of Public Health from Georgia Southern University and a Doctor of Public Health from the University of South Florida. Dr. Scott said the department's priorities will include following the data and evidence, strengthening partnerships, embracing innovation and investing in staff.

The appointment was presented as a formal staffing decision during the manager's report; the board offered its public welcome to Dr. Scott and the meeting moved on after brief congratulatory remarks.