Public Health: Past, Present, Future

Dr. Chris Rustin’s public health career spans over two decades ranging from working in rural and urban health departments, the State Health Department, to a stint in Academia. Dr. Rustin splits his time between Atlanta and Savannah serving in a dual role; Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and Public Health Administrator for the Chatham County Health Department (CCHD). As the Deputy Commissioner, he assists the Commissioner of Public Health with oversight of statewide public health programs, 159 county health departments, and over 6,000 employees statewide. For the past two years, he has served as the Incident Manager coordinating DPH’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently assisting with the coordination of the monkeypox response. As the CCHD Public Health Administrator, he directs one of the largest health departments in the State ensuring local public health services are provided to the Savannah Chatham community and region.