The Missoula County commissioners appointed Jeanna Miller as the new health officer for Missoula Public Health at their administrative public meeting Thursday morning. The Board of Health recommended Miller to the commissioners after a nationwide search. Miller has 17 years of public health experience at MPH and currently serves as the environmental health manager for the Environmental Health division.
As health officer, Miller will be responsible for professional-level administration of Montana’s second largest public health jurisdiction, the Missoula Public Health Department. This includes overseeing all divisions of the health department and carrying out statutory duties related to protecting public health.
Miller has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Montana and a certificate of public health management from the University of Washington. She also has connections with the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences. Miller has experience with emergency response and was part of the incident command team during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Most importantly, Jeanna has a clear love for public health and this health department,” said Environmental Health Director Shannon Therriault, who has served as interim director of MPH following former Health Officer Damian Chase-Begay’s departure in February.
Miller will start her new role later this month.
Photo courtesy of Jeanna Miller.