The Dorchester County Health Department is the county’s leader in public health.
According to the American Public Health Association, public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Public health workers try to keep people from getting sick or injured in the first place (and) … promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors.
That can include:
- Vaccinating children and adults to stop the spread of disease,
- Teaching people about the risks of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs,
- Tracking disease outbreaks,
- Preventing injuries,
- Protecting the water supply,
- Inspecting restaurants,
- Explaining why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others,
- Speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts,
- Spreading the word about ways to stay healthy,
- Giving science-based solutions to problems,
- Setting safety standards to protect workers, and
- Developing school nutrition programs so kids have access to healthy food.
The health department is part of the Maryland Department of Health, as well as an agency of Dorchester County government. Funding for the health department is a combination of federal, state and county funds, plus third-party and private-pay reimbursements.
The department:
- protects and promotes the health of all county residents,
- provides local public health services, and
- provides other health-related services.
The department is directed by the health officer, who enforces:
- state health laws,
- state health rules, and
- county health ordinances.
The health department delivers a variety of services to our community, based on:
- local health needs,
- federal rules,
- state rules, and
- county rules.
The agency ensures residents have access to personal and environmental health services and information.
Vision
Working together for a healthier community.
Mission
From disease prevention to crisis intervention, from birth to death, we are working in partnership with the community to make a safer place for healthier people.
Roger Harrell was born and raised in New Bern, North Carolina. He has been a Marylander since 1973.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he obtained his B.S. Degree in Business Administration in 1971 and earned his Master of Hospital Administration degree at the Medical College of Virginia in 1973.
He has served in senior executive positions in investor-owned, public and private healthcare entities. Roger has served as the chief public health official for Dorchester County Maryland since 1997.
He is active in his community and serves on numerous community boards:
- District Governor, Rotary District 7630, 2011-2012.
- Immediate Past President of the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center and past president 2011-2013.
- Past President of the Public Mental Health Authority.
- Past Campaign Chair for the County United Way Campaign.
- Current Member of the Governor of Maryland’s Councils on Cancer Control and Prevention, and Wellness Council.
- Recipient of the Clara Barton Award from local American Red Cross Chapter for volunteer work.
- Part time lecturer on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
- Recipient of the Cambridge Rotary Club Public Service Person of the Year award.
- Recipient of Cambridge Rotary Club Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Scott was born and raised in Cambridge, Maryland. After graduating from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, she attended the University of Maryland College Park, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2005.
Dr. Scott obtained her medical degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore in 2010, and went on to complete a residency in Family Medicine at the same campus, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Scott worked in academic medicine after training, teaching both medical students and residents.
In 2014, Dr. Scott joined the Dorchester County Health Department and now serves as the Deputy Health Officer and Medical Director. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2019. Dr. Scott is board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, and is a CrossFit Level 1 trainer. She served on the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians board for 6 years and is currently on the Cambridge Main Street board of directors.
Dr. Scott’s clinical interests include nutrition and exercise counseling, obesity, and reproductive health.
Maryland law establishes a Board of Health in each county. The local board may adopt and enforce rules and regulations on any nuisance or cause of disease in the county as long as these are not contrary to and are at least as stringent as existing state laws, rules and regulations.
The members of the Dorchester County Council serve as the Dorchester County Board of Health. The board meets in May and October each year, and at any other time the board deems necessary. The health officer is the executive officer and secretary of the Board of Health.
The administration division supports the core mission of the Dorchester County Health Department.
Administrative services include:
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Budget and Accounting
- Grants Management
- Information Technology
- Purchasing
- Maintenance/Housekeeping
- Reception
- Medical Assistance Transportation Program
- Birth and death records
eMaryland Marketplace Advantage is Maryland’s online procurement platform used to connect the vendor community with contracting opportunities from state, county, and local government entities. All Dorchester County Health Department procurement opportunities will be posted on the eMMA website and not on this website.
Registered vendors will receive notices of bid opportunities, can submit bid responses online, and may obtain bid results online.
Qualified vendors may also complete the self-certification process for the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program.
eMMA facilitates an open, transparent, and efficient procurement process.