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MINUTES
<br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
<br /> January 24, 2024
<br /> ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To promote and protect
<br /> health, enhance quality of life, and preserve the environment for everyone in Orange County.
<br /> THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON January 24, 2024, at the Orange
<br /> County Health Department, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC.
<br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Aparna Jonnal — Chair, Alison Stuebe—Vice
<br /> Chair, Keith Bagby, Bruce Baldwin, Brian Crandell, Commissioner Amy Fowler, Davia
<br /> Nickelson, Lee Pickett, Shielda Rodgers, Rachel Royce, and Tony Whitaker.
<br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
<br /> STAFF PRESENT: Quintana Stewart, Health Director; Dana Crews, Community Health
<br /> Services Director; Victoria Hudson, Environmental Health Director; Carla Julian, Public Health
<br /> Nursing Director; Ashley Rawlinson, Compliance Manager; Frederick Perschau, Finance and
<br /> Administrative Services Director; Thomas Privott, Environmental Health Supervisor; Marcy
<br /> Williams, Health Promotion and Education Services Manager; McKayla Creed, Healthy
<br /> Carolinians Coordinator; La Toya Strange, Administrative Support I; Luz "Carolina" Lopez-
<br /> Flores, Medical Office Assistant; Karina Kohls, Lab Technician; LaToya Jones, Family Success
<br /> Alliance Navigator; Dr. Rivkah Stack, Dentist; and Jean Phillips-Weiner, BOH Strategic Plan
<br /> Manager.
<br /> GUESTSIVISITORS PRESENT: Stephen Gray, Sarah Litzinger, Courtney Thomas, and Aidan
<br /> Walker.
<br /> I. Welcome New Board Member—Commissioner Amy Fowler
<br /> Dr. Jonnal introduced Commissioner Amy Fowler, the new BOCC Representative for the Board
<br /> of Health. While board members introduced themselves to Commissioner Fowler, Dr. Jonnal
<br /> invited board comments at this time.
<br /> Board Comments
<br /> Dr. Aparna Jonnal
<br /> Dr. Jonnal welcomed Commissioner Fowler, stated that she is the physician representative
<br /> for the board, and shared that her time as a member has been lovely, and she finds the board of
<br /> health to be friendly, warm, and intellectually stimulating.
<br /> Dr. Jonnal also commented that she is experiencing a low point existentially in her career
<br /> related to a recent Harvard study published in JAMA, "Changes in Hospital Adverse Events and
<br /> Patient Outcomes Associated with Private Equity Acquisition." In essence, this large study
<br /> determined that hospitals owned by private equity corporations experience significantly higher
<br /> risk of adverse outcomes, infections, and falls. She said this is related to modern medicine
<br /> practicing under artificial scarcity due to inappropriate distribution of resources and as such
<br /> could be addressed. As a physician practicing in two locations, one at UNC Hospitals and a
<br /> smaller Duke location under a corporate umbrella, she was disturbed by these findings and tried
<br /> to bring them up at work but felt rebuffed. She said that she feels this is an important topic for a
<br /> board of health to be aware of and that she is frustrated that one of the wealthiest countries with
<br /> the most expensive healthcare system in the world is failing to take adequate care of its
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