For more information, contact Katie Anderson, (509) 324-1515 or kanderson@srhd.org

SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Regional Health District’s (SRHD) Board of Health selected Amelia Clark to be the next Administrative Officer for the health district. Ms. Clark is currently a consultant for Health Consulting Strategies in Muncie, Ind., and will join the health district on September 16, 2019. A committee of five SRHD board members led the selection process, which incorporated participation and feedback from multiple stakeholders. 

The administrative officer provides overall leadership for the successful operation of SRHD, including the establishment and implementation of public health policies and programs to promote and protect the health of the citizens of Spokane County. Working at the direction of the Board of Health, the administrative officer’s responsibilities include enforcing local and state public health laws, serving as chief executive officer for the health district and providing leadership to SRHD staff.  

“The Board of the Spokane Regional Health District is thrilled to welcome Amelia Clark as our administrative officer,” said Breean Beggs, Spokane City Councilmember and SRHD Board of Health chair. “She rose to the top of a very qualified pool of applicants from across the nation. Both staff and the board are excited about the skills, knowledge and experience Ms. Clark will bring to our continued work for a healthier Spokane region.” 

Ms. Clark commented, “I am so honored and elated to lead Spokane Regional Health District. I wholeheartedly believe in having strong public health programs. Public health impacts all of Spokane County, the state and the country.” She continued by stating, “My family is very excited to become part of the Spokane community. I look forward to leading SRHD and getting involved locally."

Ms. Clark has worked in the public health and nonprofit sectors for more than 15 years. Previously, Clark was Regional Vice President of Meridian Health Services in Muncie, Ind., where she led the Walnut Commons project, a supportive housing program that included behavioral care case management and on-site primary care for its residents. Clark also developed Meridian’s Integrated Health Care Education Institute and led the Maternal Fetal Task Force in Delaware County, which focused on assisting mothers with addiction and babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. 

As administrative officer for SRHD, Clark will work with her staff to build relationships with medical providers and community partners to address health inequities. She will also build awareness of upstream public health interventions, carry out policy implementation and change, develop a data-driven strategic health agenda and mobilize collective efforts to address community public health priorities. 

The previous position of administrator was vacated in January 2019, when former administrator, Torney Smith, retired after 28 years of service. 

Clark graduated from the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and is expected to complete her doctorate in public health in August of 2021. 

For more information about Spokane Regional Health District, visit www.srhd.org. SRHD’s web site offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.