Health Department director hired
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 7, 2012 1:46 PM
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Davin Madden
A new health director has been named for the Health Department.
Davin Madden, 38, currently health director in Pamlico County, will take over the position previously held by James Roosen, who stepped down from his duties in late November after eight years in the role.
Roosen, who cited health reasons for his departure, had surgery for a brain tumor in February 2010.
At a special called meeting in late October, the board appointed Evelyn Coley, director of nursing at the Health Department, as interim health director until a replacement could be found.
Officials said at the time that the nationwide search could take up to six months. On Tuesday, Dr. Kim Larson, chairwoman of the board of health, announced that Madden is expected to start in early April.
His arrival will be a homecoming of sorts. The Duplin County native graduated from James Kenan High School. He furthered his studies at UNC-Wilmington and Strayer University, where he obtained a master's degree in health services administration.
Madden's career in public health began in 1998 as an environmental health specialist in Duplin County. He later worked in Greene County as environmental health supervisor before being offered the job of health director in Pamlico County in 2009.
He said he decided to apply for the Wayne County job because of the "good reputation" held by the Health Department.
"I'm just from down the road, so I am very familiar, I like that part of Wayne County," he said. "I'm a young health director and looking to come into a bigger community to show what I can offer the Health Department and people of Wayne County."
Mrs. Larson said the board has been grateful for Ms. Coley's "excellent leadership" during the transition and is now anticipating what Madden will bring to the role. He has a strong background in public health, she said.
"The board is excited to have Mr. Madden join the WCHD," she said. "We have a superb staff in the Health Department and we feel Mr. Madden will be able to provide the leadership necessary to meet the challenges of providing quality services in a very dynamic environment."
Madden said he is especially looking forward to working with this community, noting that having public support and input is critical.
"They have to understand that we want to serve them," he said. "Public health right now is facing a lot of changes, a lot of challenges. We're trying to do more with less. ...
"I really want to see what we can do to move things forward, what the Wayne County Health Department, the team, can do to move things forward for Wayne County citizens."
Madden and his wife, Candice, both from Wallace, have a 9-year-old daughter and a nearly 4-year-old son.