CDHD Hires New Administrator

EAST WENATCHEE – Following a two-month search for a new administrator, the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) has hired Luke D. Davies, who grew up in Orondo, to lead the two-county agency.

Davies, who has a master’s in public health and extensive crisis management experience in multi-cultural settings, accepted the position this week and will begin his new role on Jan. 11.

“We are very excited to have Luke on board,” said Dan Sutton, chairman of the CDHD Board of Health. “It was a rigorous interview process that attracted candidates from around the state and beyond. For all the members of the selection committee, Luke stood out above the other candidates.”

Davies comes from the University of Washington, where he is currently a program officer for the International Training and Education Center for Health.

“I am excited to join the incredible work that Chelan-Douglas Health District has been doing,” Davies said. “It will be an honor to support the staff and partners who have been working tirelessly to improve health for our counties during this challenging time.”

An Orondo native, Davies graduated from Eastmonth High School. His experience growing up in a farming family in North Central Washington inspired him to pursue an education in public health and sparked an interest in reducing disparities in health care, said Davies, who speaks multiple languages, including Spanish.

Davies earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, with an emphasis in biochemistry and anthropology, from Seattle Pacific University. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Washington.

While working on community development projects in the Caribbean, Davies broadened his interests to disaster management leadership while in Haiti responding to the 2010 earthquake and cholera outbreak. He has worked for the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health in a variety of capacities and in a variety of areas, including in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. He has supported programs and research in disaster management, disease surveillance, implementation science, health systems strengthening, maternal newborn child health, HIV prevention and treatment, violence against children and gender-based violence.

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