Board of Health

The Board of Health is a volunteer group that meets monthly to discuss community health priorities, set public health policy, and advise the Orange County Health Department.

Meeting information

Day and time

The Board of Health meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

February meeting location

Whitted Human Services Center
Board of Health Conference Room, 3rd Floor
300 West Tryon Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278

All Board of Health meetings are open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend.

2025 Meeting calendar 

No meeting in December

2026 Meeting Calendar

  • January 21, 2026
  • February 25, 2026
  • March 25, 2026
  • April 11, 2026 - Board Retreat
  • April 22, 2026
  • May 27, 2026
  • June 24, 2026
  • No meeting in July
  • August 26, 2026
  • September 23, 2026
  • October 28, 2026
  • November 18, 2026
  • No meeting in December

Agendas and minutes

Agendas are posted before each meeting. Minutes are shared after they are approved by the Board.

Visit the Board of Health Meeting Archives to view past agendas and minutes.

Agenda for Wednesday, February 25, 2026

View or download the documents for the February 25, 2026 meeting

Agenda for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 

View or download the documents for the January 21, 2026 meeting:

Board of Health Strategic Plan

Current Board Members

Member Email
 Public Health Field / At-Large
 Term Number
 Term Expires
Davia Nickelson, DDS - Photo (JPG) Email Davia Nickelson Dentistry 1st  June 2028
Bruce Baldwin, OD, PhD - Photo (JPG)  Email Bruce Baldwin Optometry 3rd  June 2027
Tony Whitaker, PE -  Photo (JPG)
Chairperson
 Email Tony Whitaker 
 Engineering 2nd June 2027
Rachel Royce, PhD, MPH - Photo (JPG)  Email Rachel Royce  At-Large  1st June 2026
Shielda Rodgers, PhD, RN.  - Photo (JPG) Email Shielda Rodgers
 Nursing 2nd June 2026
VACANT - Photo (JPG)  VACANT At-Large 

Commissioner Earl McKee - Photo (JPG) Email Earl McKee Board of County Commissioners N/A
 N/A
Aparna Jonnal, MD, MPH - Photo (JPG)   Email Aparna Jonnal
 Medicine 3rd June 2028
Brian Crandell, PharmD, CPP - Photo (JPG) 
Vice-Chairperson
 Email Brian Crandell
 Pharmacy 2nd June 2028
Lee Pickett, VMD - Photo (JPG) Email Lee Pickett 
 Veterinary Medicine 2nd June 2026
Alison Stuebe, MD, MSc, - ​Photo (JPG)
​		 Email Alison Stuebe
 At-Large 2nd June 2027

BOH Group Photo

Board Members in Action

Board of Health members are active leaders in public health and community service. Here are some of their recent accomplishments:

  • Board members Fowler and Jonnal spoke on WCHL-FM radio about helping kids stay screen-free.
  • Davia Nickelson, DDS was honored by the N.C. Dental Society as the 2025 Outstanding Young Dentist of the Year.
  • Shielda Rodgers, PhD, MS, RN was named a 2025 Visionary Pioneer by the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
  • Rachel Royce, PhD, MPH received the 2025 Carl Durham Award from the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health for her work helping Orange County residents access Medicaid coverage.

Board of Health Resolutions

For signed versions of a resolution, email the Health Department's public information officer. 

Board of Health member qualifications and responsibilities

The Board of Health has members who are chosen by the Board of County Commissioners. Members must meet state law requirements (NCGS 130A-35b). Each person can serve up to three terms, and each term lasts three years.

The Board has 11 members. It includes:

  • One County Commissioner
  • Three community (At-Large) members
  • One professional from each of these fields:
    • Dentistry
    • Engineering
    • Nursing
    • Optometry
    • Pharmacy
    • Medicine
    • Veterinary Medicine

Responsibilities

The Board of Health sets public-health policy for Orange County and makes certain legal decisions. The Board’s goal is to protect and improve the health of everyone in the county. Members meet regularly to review programs, guide public-health work, and make recommendations to county leaders.