Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has announced the appointment of Dr. Bruce Randolph as the Interim Director of the Shelby County Health Department and Health Officer, a move pending final approval from the Tennessee Commissioner of Health. Mayor Harris, with a year left in his term, is focused on ensuring a seamless transition of leadership within the health department and has tapped Randolph's extensive experience to fulfill this critical role, according to a statement released early this morning from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office.
In the statement released by the Mayor’s Office, Randolph's qualifications are notably extensive; he is a Tuskegee University alumnus, and his training spans both general preventative medicine from Johns Hopkins University and occupational medicine at the University of Oklahoma. Also, his time as Shelby County Health Officer during the COVID-19 pandemic saw vaccination efforts in correctional facilities that outpaced national averages, proven by his leadership. "Dr. Randolph has the experience, steady leadership, and community knowledge needed to lead our Health Department over the next year and continue protecting and promoting public health in Shelby County," said Mayor Harris.
Dr. Randolph, who previously served as the county's health officer, spent close to four decades in medicine, working across various settings, which included rural and urban health, student health services, and the National Health Service Corps. His holistic approach to public health and solid track record in managing complex health crises appear to be a few of the key reasons behind his appointment to this interim position.
"I’m proud to be appointed to this important role," Dr. Randolph told the Shelby County Mayor’s Office, emphasizing his commitment to the continuity of the department's essential public health work. "I look forward to working alongside our dedicated Health Department staff to protect the health and well-being of every resident in our community."
