Charlie Hunt, MPH has started as the new director of Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on April 17. Hunt joined JCDHE as deputy director in 2021 and has served as interim director since November 4, 2022.

If you go back to nearly the beginning of his career, Hunt worked at JCDHE as a communicable disease investigator and then became a health educator. His career includes 18 years in various positions with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, culminating with serving as the state epidemiologist and director of the Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics for seven years.

Hunt also worked as a senior analyst for Kansas Health Institute and served various roles (research assistant, research instructor/senior epidemiologist) for the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“The community, the organization and JCDHE are very fortunate to have Charlie Hunt at the helm,” said Penny Postoak Ferguson, county manager. “He has nearly 30 years of progressive public health experience, has an extremely robust background in research and overseeing complex organizations and prioritizes collaboration both internally and externally.”

Hunt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education and a master’s degree in public health, both from the University of Kansas. His research/articles have been published in dozens of journals, periodicals, technical reports and other publications. His professional services and memberships include serving as a site visitor for the Public Health Accreditation Board, past director-at-large for the Kansas Public Health Association Board and board member for the American Lung Association’s Greater Kansas City Local Leadership Board.