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MINUTES-Draft <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> May 28, 2025 <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 May 28, 2025, at the Orange County <br /> Health Department, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC. <br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Alison Stuebe — Chair, Tony Whitaker—Vice <br /> Chair, Bruce Baldwin, Brian Crandell, Commissioner Amy Fowler, Aparna Jonnal, Davia <br /> Nickelson, Lee Pickett, Shielda Rodgers, and Rachel Royce. <br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Keith Bagby. <br /> STAFF PRESENT: Quintana Stewart, Health Director; Erica Pettigrew, Medical Director; Dana <br /> Crews, Community Health Services Director; Dr. Stephanie George, Dental Services Director; <br /> Victoria Hudson, Environmental Health Director; Carla Julian, Public Health Nursing Director; <br /> Ashley Rawlinson, Compliance Manager; Frederick Perschau, Financial and Administrative <br /> Services Director; Shannon Barnes, Family Home Visiting Services Manager; Tonya Stancil, <br /> Harm Reduction Coordinator; Michael Chapman, Environmental Health Services Specialist; and <br /> Jean Phillips-Weiner, BOH Strategic Plan Manager. <br /> GUESTS/VISITORS PRESENT: None. <br /> I. Welcome New Employees <br /> Quintana Stewart, Health Director, introduced the new employee in attendance: Michael <br /> Chapman — Environmental Health Services Specialist. <br /> II. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda: None. <br /> III. Board Comments: <br /> Dr. Aparna Jonnal <br /> Dr. Jonnal commented that one of the hospitals that she works for is owned by a private <br /> equity group and that this company is being investigated by the senate. A previous senate <br /> investigation concluded that it is bad for patients when private equity corporations own hospitals <br /> and leads to worse outcomes. Dr. Jonnal said that she has been trying to advocate for adequate <br /> resources for hospitals for years now, and that it is challenging as a doctor when the exiting <br /> CEO receives an extravagant retirement package while there are not enough medical supplies <br /> to perform basic healthcare for patients. She said that, if things do not improve, she feels like <br /> she may have a moral duty to go directly to the equity firm but added that, should that happen, <br /> she would like to approach it in a very constructive way without shaming or blaming. She invited <br /> other board members to help contribute as she plans out how to approach this over the next <br /> several months and added that she may request time to present to the board on this topic in the <br /> future. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said that adding a third party to healthcare intrinsically complicates the <br /> process and harms quality of care and that she doesn't understand how making hospitals for- <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts/ <br /> May Page 1 <br />