New Health Department Director Visits the KP

We want to be connected. You will see me. I want to come. I want to learn. I want to see.”

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is a separate entity from Pierce County government. It is governed by the eight-member Board of Health, each of whom is appointed for two-year terms: they include three members come from the Pierce County Council, one from the Tacoma City Council, one from the Pierce County Cities and Towns Association, and one from the Pierce County Medical Society. The Pierce County Executive and the Tacoma Mayor serve on the Board of Health but may delegate their positions.

Chantell Harmon Reed, the new director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, met with community members at the Key Center Library Aug. 14. It was one of nine planned meet-and-greets she held across the county to connect with the public, and she made it clear that she intends to return. 

Reed stepped into her role in March, replacing Anthony Chen, who retired in 2023. She has a background in business and healthcare and previously served as deputy director of the Public Health Division for the Multnomah County Health Department in Oregon and deputy director for the New Orleans Health Department. 

“I want to hear from you. This is not just about me,” Reed said. “I want to learn. You’ll hear a little bit about who I am, about who we are, and some ideas about what’s next and some opportunities.” 

Reed was born and raised in New Orleans, but her family had land in a more rural location, and she said that the Key Peninsula reminded her of her experience there. “I hunted, I fished, I picked blackberries,” she said. 

“Public health is essential,” Reed said as she described the work of her department. “We make sure your food is safe, and the water and air are clean. We get to do this every single day.” 

“We are in the process of updating the strategic plan,” Reed said. She hopes to increase the focus on the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and to make sure that the county is ready for any emergency including weather events, disease and power outages. “Responding to a Cascadia event is not the same as responding to Covid,” she said. 

One of the first tasks Reed had as director was to hire Dr. Jay Miller as health officer. The health officer must have a license to practice medicine in Washington and is tasked with enforcing public health statutes of the state, rules of the state board of health and the secretary of health, and all local health rules, regulations and ordinances. Chen filled the roles of both director and health officer during his tenure. 

Jani Hitchen, health board chair and Pierce County Councilmember (D-6th), was part of the search committee that recommended Reed. Initially, the committee hoped to find a candidate who could fill both the director and health officer roles, but they were not able to find the best fit for the county. 

“Splitting the position allowed the search committee to find exceptional people for both roles,” Hitchen said. “Director Reed is able to focus on the people she leads, the community she serves, and the overall health outcomes. Dr. Miller can focus his time on the health services the health department provides, partnerships with our large and small health organizations, and the data that should drive the overall health department work.” 

Councilmember Robyn Denson (D-7th) said, “I really appreciate Director Reed’s business background and clear business acumen. She has not been simply content with the status quo programs and processes at the health department. Rather, she’s asking a lot of questions, moving people and departments around to break down silos and to improve efficiency, and she’s really thinking about the core purpose of the health department to ensure she and her staff are meeting the most important needs of Tacoma and Pierce County residents.” 

In response to questions from the audience, Reed spoke of her work to improve the permitting process and recognized the challenges that organizations have had in providing services such as childcare and senior meal programs because of poor existing infrastructure and permit requirements. She said that meetings such as this one were the first steps in community engagement as the department updates its strategic plan. 

“Community is key,” Reed said, pledging to return. “We are here — not just me but me and the staff. We want to be connected. You will see me. I want to come. I want to learn. I want to see. If I just sit in my office that doesn’t translate into real action.”