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- Written by: Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhDDalton, GA - The North Georgia Health District is pleased to announce the appointment of K. Mills McNeill, MD, PhD, as the district’s new Health Director. Dr. McNeill brings a wealth of experience and expertise in preventive medicine and public health to the six-county health district based in Dalton, Georgia, comprised of Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties.
Dr. McNeill received his medical doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1975, preceded by a PhD in medical parasitology from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1971. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Mississippi State University, which he earned in 1968.
With 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Army as a Preventive Medicine Physician, Dr. McNeill retired as a Colonel. His career includes various leadership roles in both the military and public health sectors, such as Senior Medical Officer at the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency, Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Uganda, Chief of Preventive Medicine Service at various military medical centers, Senior Public Health Physician of the Mississippi State Department of Public Health, and Medical Epidemiologist of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Throughout his career, Dr. McNeill has contributed to numerous publications and served on federal advisory committees, demonstrating his commitment to advancing public health initiatives and improving healthcare systems.
In his new role as Health Director of the North Georgia Health District, Dr. McNeill will lead efforts to promote community health and wellness, implement preventive health programs, and address public health challenges in the region. His extensive experience and dedication to public service make him a valuable spearhead of the district's leadership team.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mills McNeill as our new Health Director," said Louise Hamrick, Deputy Director, North Georgia Health District. "His outstanding qualifications and proven track record in the military and public health make him the ideal candidate to lead our district and support our mission of improving the health and well-being of our community."
Dr. McNeill’s appointment is effective immediately, and he is eager to collaborate with local stakeholders, healthcare providers, and community members to enhance health outcomes and promote a culture of wellness in the North Georgia Health District.
For more information about the North Georgia Health District and its wide range of public health services at the district and county levels, please visit www.nghd.org.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
Helping ensure Children are Buckled Up Right, Every Trip, Every Time!Dalton, GA – The North Georgia Health District is excited to announce that health departments in Cherokee, Gilmer, Whitfield, and NOW Pickens counties have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program. This grant will enable the health departments to collaborate with community partners in their respective counties to provide car seats and educational resources to financially eligible families. The program is funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, with the aim of safeguarding Georgia's children during motor vehicle rides.
Since 2007, the impact of this initiative has been remarkable! The education, car seats, and booster seats provided through the Mini-Grant have prevented serious injuries and fatalities, saving the lives of over 437 children involved in accidents in Georgia. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and 54 percent among children aged 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. Properly installed and used car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash. Unfortunately, nearly three out of every four car seats are not used correctly, exposing children to unnecessary risks.
The Car Seat Mini-Grant represents a significant opportunity to protect children in these communities from serious injuries or death resulting from motor vehicle accidents.
Through this grant, the health departments and their partners will educate parents and caregivers on the proper installation and use of car seats. They will also provide car seat inspections and distribute car seats and booster seats to families who meet the financial eligibility criteria. With the support of the grant, agencies in more than 113 Georgia counties are working together with families to ensure that children are safely buckled up right, every trip, every time.
For more information about the car seat program, please contact the Cherokee County Health Department at their Woodstock Health Center at (770) 928-0133, the Gilmer County Health Department in Ellijay at (706) 635-4363, the Pickens County Health Department in Jasper at (706) 253-2821, or the Whitfield County Health Department in Dalton at (706) 279-9600. The addresses and operating hours of these health departments can be found by clicking on the name of the county HERE on our website. For information regarding other counties involved in the program, please email the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Child Occupant Safety Project at
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
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Chatsworth, GA - The Murray County Health Department will continue to be closed on Thursday, January 4, 2024, due to ongoing plumbing repairs. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate everyone's patience as this work is being completed. We will make an immediate announcement when the health department in Murray County is ready to reopen. We also encourage residents to monitor our website for the latest latest updates here at www.nghd.org.
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- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
Our health departments in North Georgia provide a variety of Children's Health Care services!
Health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties provide health care services to children from birth to 21 years of age. The goal is to give your child the best care available by providing services from an experienced and dedicated staff.
Just a few of these provided services are mentioned below - to learn more about other services for children provided at your county health department in North Georgia, click on the name of your county in the above paragraph:
- Immunizations for children
- Immunizations for child caregivers
- Hearing, vision and dental screenings
- Car seat education program
School Health Requirements are Easily Available at Health Departments in North Georgia
Ensure your child meets all Georgia's health requirements for school registration.... Click here to view all the state's school health requirements, and then call or come to your county public health department in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens or Whitfield County to get your child up-to-date! This is your one-stop spot to take care of all your student's school health requirements. The health departments offer the required Hearing, Dental and Vision screening, BMI/Nutrition screening and Immunizations. Prices are affordable and various forms of Medicaid and health insurance are accepted.
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The following is an overview of services provided for Children With Special Needs at our County Health Departments in North Georgia. For general information about each of these services, please read below - for access to more indepth information, click right HERE!
Children’s Medical Services
Referrals to Children’s Medical Services are provided throughout the year for families who are financially unable to obtain specialized medical care in various areas such as hearing, neurology, cardiac, plastic surgery, orthopedic, and follow-up burn care.
Babies Can't Wait (BCW)
Babies Can't Wait is Georgia's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and for their families.
Children 1st
Children 1st identifies children who are at risk for poor health and developmental outcomes so that needed interventions can be made to ensure the best health and development of the child.
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Click HERE to learn about Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services and see if you are eligible to sign up for WIC!
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Go HERE to learn about our DENTAL SERVICES for Children provided at many of our health departments in North Georgia!
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