In the midst of the most challenging public health crisis of our lifetimes, it's more important than ever to celebrate public health.

DHEC is charged with promoting and protecting the health of the public and the environment in South Carolina. With more than 3,400 employees working in 100 locations across the state, our vision is healthy people living in healthy communities. 

Karen Hutto, ’83 BSN, Director of the Midlands Region Office of Public Health Preparedness, SCDHEC 

 My work has me in daily contact with community partners to discuss their issues with preparedness and how my office can help. We work with our partners to plan for incidents such as the COVID-19 event. We train public health staff and community partners on how to operate points of dispensing and how to react to events that may affect them such medical surge or hurricanes. My staff and I also assist with the identification and assessment of Medical Needs Shelter locations. As the Director of my office, I use my nursing analytical and assessment skills daily in making decisions for our office. My nursing knowledge also helps me as we plan and mitigate public health preparedness issues.  

Chelsea Headden, '18 BSN, Nurse Supervisor, SCDHEC

I am in charge of the preventative health clinic that sees patients and provides family planning and STD services to the residents of Lexington county. In regards to COVID-19, my job involves collecting information from multiple sources and providing that information to the public. Things are constantly changing and DHEC is very fluid in regards to COVID-19. As a public health nurse, I'm working to keep lines of communication open with patients and the community.