Christopher J. Smith, RS, REHS, CFSP, MPA

Director of Environmental Health, Preparedness Coordinator

Wilson County Health Department

Wilson, NC 27893

Biography

Christopher Smith is the Director of Environmental Health with Wilson County Health Department in North Carolina.  He is responsible for the oversight of all Environmental Health Programs in the county including the Food, Lodging, Institution, Swimming Pool, Tattoo, Child Care, Lead Poisoning, On-Site Wastewater, and Private Drinking Water Well programs.  In addition, Mr. Smith is responsible for all Public Health Preparedness planning for Wilson County including response to bioterrorism incidents, pandemic influenza, natural disasters, and the unknown. 

Prior to joining Wilson County Health Department, Mr. Smith was employed as a Regional Environmental Health Specialist with the North Carolina Division of Environmental Health, Dairy & Food Protection Branch.  During this time he was responsible for ensuring the initial training and testing of new Environmental Health Specialists working in the southeast region of North Carolina.  He was also responsible for the oversight and continuing education needs of Environmental Health Specialists in the 14-county region.

Mr. Smith earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Environmental Studies, a Master of Public Administration degree from East Carolina University, and Graduate Certificates in Core Public Health Concepts and Field Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Mr. Smith is a Registered Sanitarian with the State of North Carolina. He is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Certified Food Safety Professional with the National Environmental Health Association.

Leadership Development Opportunities

Being part of the Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute has been an extremely rewarding experience for me both personally and professionally.  I am honored and humbled to have met and worked with some of the very best Environmental Health professionals in the country over the past year.  This includes the faculty, mentors, and my fellow students. I have learned so much about myself through the assessments, activities, and project over the course of this program. My goal is to continue building on the leadership skills that have been gained through this institute and pass them on to others in the profession.