At Cobb & Douglas Public Health, we strive to create healthier lives in the communities where we work. Every day, residents of Cobb and Douglas counties are served by dedicated, talented and caring public health professionals. Together with our staff and partners, Cobb & Douglas Public Health strives to exceed expectations. Here, we honor the awards and recognition our staff, facilities, and agency have achieved through continuous improvement and industry excellence.

2023

  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Sellers-McCroan Award” – Rachel Franklin, MPH, CIC, Chief Epidemiologist, Cobb & Douglas Public Health; Savannah Hardin, Epidemiologist, Cobb & Douglas Public Health and Christopher Gulledge, MD, Cobb County Medical Examiner
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA)  – “Administration Outstanding Service Award” – Valerie Prince, BA, Director,  Center for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Al Dohany Community Service Award” – Lisa Crossman, MS, Deputy Director, Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Ruth B. Freeman Nursing Award for Population Health Practice” – Pepa Koleva, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Fred Agel Governance Award” – Lisa Cupid, JD, MPA, Cobb County Commission Chair and Cobb Board of Health Member
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health

2022

  • Emory University – “Rollins School of Public Health COVID-19 Epidemiology Fellowship Above & Beyond Award” Sheena Norwood, MPH, Epidemiologist
  • Douglas County Chamber of Commerce – “Educate-HER! Award” – Lisa Crossman, MS, Deputy Director
  • The Telly Awards – “Bronze Telly Award for Cinematography” – Prescription Medication PSA – Lori Jouty, Public Health Analyst – Overdose Response Specialist
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Fred Agel Governance Award” – Dr. Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County Commission Chair and Douglas Board of Health Member
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA)  – “Environmentalist of the Year Award” – Chris Hutcheson, Director,  Center for Environmental Health
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Barfield Nursing Award” – Ginny Powell, BSN, RN, Clinic Supervisor, Acworth-Kennesaw Public Health Center
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Safe Kids Georgia/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – “Excellence in Programming Effectiveness” – Melissa Chan-Leiba, Safe Kids Cobb Coordinator/Injury Prevention District Coordinator

2021

  • Douglas County Chamber of Commerce – “Large Business of the Year Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Cobb County Sheriff’s Office – “Meritorious Service Award 2021” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Douglas County Chamber of Commerce – Advancing Modern Professionals in Douglas (AMP’D) Program – “Top Ten Young Professional of 2021” – Rachel Franklin, MPH, CIC, Director of Epidemiology & Infectious Disease
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle – “2021 Women of Influence” – Dr. Janet Memark, M.P.H, F.A.C.P., District Health Director
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle – “Atlanta’s Healthiest Employer” Finalist – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Georgia Public Health Association – “Fred Agel Governance Award” to recognize outstanding commitment and service in the promotion of public health – Carol Holtz, RN, PhD,  Cobb Board of Health Chair
  • Kiwanis Club of Marietta  – “Walter Zeller Fellowship” for outstanding community service  – Lisa Crossman, MS, Deputy Director
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Promising Practice Award – “Retaining Public Health Professionals” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health’s Workforce Administration Team
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Honorable Mention Award/Innovative Practice Category – “2020 Digital Power in Truth Conference” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health’s Adolescent Health & Youth Development Team
  • The Extension – “Dr. Judith A. Hoyt Award for Community Leadership” – Lisa Crossman, MS, Deputy Director
  • Georgia State University – “Preceptor of the Year” – Gurleen Roberts, DrPH, MPH, Director, Office of Quality Management
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Georgia Government Finance Officers Association – 2021 Government Finance Officers Association Leadership Academy Full Scholarship – Valerie Prince, BA, Director, Center of Administration

2020

  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Promising Practice Award – “Make Food Safer with Employee Health Achievers” – Karen Gulley, Environmental Health County Manager – Cobb County and Chris Hutcheson, Director ,Center for Environmental Health
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Promising Practice Award – “A Performance-Based Health Department Approach to Aligning Agency Plans” – Gurleen Roberts, DrPH, MPH, Director, Office of Quality Management
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Marietta Business Association/Cobb Chamber of Commerce – “2020 Marietta Citizen of the Year” – Lisa Crossman, MS, Deputy Director
  • 2020 Best of Cobb – “Best Site for COVID-19 Testing” – Jim R. Miller Park COVID Front-line staff led by Catharine Smythe (Clinical Services Director), John Houser (EP&R Director), Dennis Thayer (EP&R Deputy Director) and Dawn Krahwinkel (Clinical Services Deputy Director)

2019

  • Department of Family and Children Services – Georgia PREP Shining Star Facilitator Award – Nicole Turner
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Model Practice Award  – “A Partnership Between Cobb & Douglas Public Health and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for Creating Continuity During a Mass Fatality Incident” – Jenaila Hawkins, MSA, EMHP, Healthcare Liaison/MRC Coordinator
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Promising Practice Award  – “Promoting Public Health Through an Innovative Mass Media Initiative” – Valerie Crow, BA, Director of Communications
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) – “Janet Stancliff Epidemiology Award” – Rachel Franklin, MPH
  • Georgia Public Health Association – “Larry W. Miller Health Information Specialist of the Year Award” – Melissa Green, RN
  • Georgia Public Health Association – “GPHA Accreditation Award” – Gurleen Roberts, DrPH, MPH
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle – “Atlanta’s Healthiest Employer” Finalist – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • GFOA “Certificate of Recognition for Budget Preparation” – MaryKay Maples, CDPH Budget Accountant
  • GFOA “Award of Financial Reporting Achievement” – Michele DiSalle, CDPH Comptroller

2018

  • Recognition for Meeting FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standard 9 (Program Assessment) – Karen Gulley, CDPH Environmental Health County Manager and the Food Service Team
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Model Practice Award  – “Creating a Resource Development Office to Diversify Public Health Funding” – Jan Heidrich-Rice, CDPH District Development Director
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” – Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • GFOA “Certificate of Recognition for Budget Preparation” – Valerie Prince, BA, CDPH Deputy Director, Center for Administration
  • GFOA “Award of Financial Reporting Achievement” – Michele DiSalle, CDPH Comptroller
  • Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center “I am a TB leader” 1st Place Award – Phyllistine Gardner, CDPH District TB Coordinator and TB Team

2017

  • Recognition for Meeting FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standard 1 (Program Assessment) – Karen Gulley, CDPH Environmental Health County Manager and the Food Service Team
  • Cobb County Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Cobb Class of 2018 – Valerie Prince, Cobb County Deputy Administrator
  • National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Model Practice Award – “Decreasing Risky Behaviors in Youth through the Power in Truth Conference”– Viva Price, Children & Youth Section Manager – Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention<