Meet Marissa Jelks, Public Information Officer for the Chatham County Public Health Department
Communications Specialist
2. What are your job duties?
I’m the Healthy Chatham Coordinator. I maintain the health department website, coordinate outreach events, and send out press releases to the media. I also keep track of health data and write annual reports on the health status of Chatham County.
3. How long have you worked with the health department?
I’ve been here 6 ½ years.
4. What led you to the Chatham County Public Health Department? I was finishing my Public Health Master’s Program internship with the state in the fall of 2002. I had moved here from Tennessee and wanted to stay in central North Carolina. I applied for jobs in the area. I really liked Chatham County when I interviewed. Good thing they liked me too!
4. Why did you decide to get into the public health field?
I want to help people live longer, healthier lives and prevent disease.
5. What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love the variety of my job. I get to do so many different things and work with so many wonderful people.
7. What are some upcoming projects?
The health department recently held an obesity prevention retreat with local agencies and organizations. We’re going to follow up with that and start developing a comprehensive county-wide plan. We just started a blog. If that’s successful, we may look into doing a Facebook page and maybe some twittering. The Community Health Assessment is due next December so we’re going to start pulling a team together in the next few weeks to start working on that.
8. What are some public health words of advice?
“Dance like nobody’s watching… Eat like somebody is!”
