Boards of health across the country have strengths and weaknesses, and vary based on their statutory requirement and effectiveness. Join Dr. Karl Johnson, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health professor, as he discusses themes of what created strong boards of health in North Carolina. Strong BOHs were noted as fulfilling three identities on behalf of the LHD: an advocate, bridge, and advisor. Wide variations exist in boards of health across the state, partially due to how different LHD configurations structurally focus resources and attention on public health.

About the Speaker: Karl Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Karl is passionate about working alongside and advocating for the work of local public health, including the work of local governmental health departments and community-based organizations. He believes deeply in the integration of public health research and practice, as well as the importance of working with local communities to solve complex, cross-sector public health challenges. The focus of Karl's research has been on cross-sector collaborations to address health equity, the role of local governmental health departments in securing needed public health goods and services, and the role and importance of local boards of health. For his dissertation Karl assessed the current strengths and weaknesses of the board of health as an institution in North Carolina, as well as how the relationship between the board and the health department is influenced by variations in organizational and governance structures across the state.