Well being Director
Billie Walker has been appointed to function Well being Director of the Alexander County Well being Division. She was named Interim Well being Director in Could following the retirement of Leeanne Whisnant.
Walker has labored her method up the ladder on the well being division since 2003 when she was employed as a part-time Bioterrorism Coordinator. Quickly thereafter, she was named the Communicable Illness Nurse, and have become Director of Nursing in 2008. Walker was promoted to Assistant Well being Director in 2019.
“I’m honored to have been chosen for this position and contemplate it a privilege to work on daily basis with such an unbelievable group of public well being professionals,” mentioned Walker. “I sit up for persevering with the work and mission of the Alexander County Well being Division, which is to advertise, shield, and make sure the well being and well-being of each citizen of Alexander County.”
County Supervisor Rick French mentioned he’s happy with Walker’s accomplishments over time and is very grateful for her dedication through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Billie displayed distinctive management expertise through the pandemic. It was a really annoying time, particularly for the well being division as they labored to maintain everybody knowledgeable and wholesome throughout this tough time,” mentioned French. “She has actually earned the title of Well being Director.”
A local of Alexander County, Walker is a 1993 graduate of Alexander Central Excessive College. Throughout her secondary schooling, Walker mentioned she already knew she wished to be a nurse after taking well being occupation lessons at ACHS. She attended Catawba Valley Group Faculty whereas working as a Licensed Nurse Assistant (CNA) at Catawba Memorial Hospital. She attained her nursing diploma from CVCC in Could 1999. Walker served as An infection Management Nurse at Valley Nursing Middle for 1½ years, after which utilized for her first job on the well being division.
As she superior professionally, Walker continued her schooling because the succession plan developed on the well being division. She started lessons at Gardner-Webb College in 2013 and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The native Well being Director place requires a grasp’s diploma, so Walker continued her research at Gardner-Webb and attained her Grasp of Science in Nursing diploma in 2018.
“This was a really strenuous time in my life as I juggled full-time work whereas elevating a household and going to highschool at night time,” Walker associated. “I’m happy with my private {and professional} achievements as I’ve labored exhausting to earn this place with the Alexander County Well being Division. I’ll try to supply top-notch providers for our residents and a wholesome work surroundings for our staff. I’m very grateful for this chance.”
For extra details about the Alexander County Well being Division, go to https://alexanderhealth.org or name (828) 632-9704.
