Several months into his role as public health director of Forsyth County in North Carolina, Joshua Swift continues to put his master of public health degree to good use – as he has done for the past 15 years since he graduated from the Arnold School. His goal is to serve the 380,000 for Forsyth County with a special focus on social determinants of health, such as access to healthy food, transportation, jobs and safety.

“I believe this goes beyond just public health and will require us to partner with other agencies in both the public and private sector,” Swift says. “I see the health director as being the chief health strategist who helps the community bring synergy around these issues and make a positive impact for generations to come.”

My MPH degree from the Arnold School of Public Health allowed me to advance quickly in my career.

-Joshua Swift, 2004 alumnus

“Joshua’s compassion and understanding of the importance of educating the public set him apart from other applicants,” Ronda Tatum, deputy county manager, said in the Winston Salem journal. “I think he will be a great asset to Forsyth County and will work well with the leadership within the Human Services Departments. I am very excited to have Joshua become part of the Forsyth County Human Services family.” Read the full article here.