O’Leary Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Health Work

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 21, 2013

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) has recognized Washington County Public Health Division Manager Kathleen O’Leary with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented to O’Leary during OPHA’s annual conference on October 15 in Corvallis.

With more than thirty years of public health experience at both local and state levels, O’Leary has served as the Washington County Public Health division manager since 2007.

“Kathleen has shown remarkable dedication and commitment to improving the public’s health and has created a positive difference for Oregonians,” says OPHA’s Alissa Leavitt. “By spotlighting these exceptional colleagues, it is OPHA’s aim to spark ideas and excitement and provide pathfinders for future leaders in public health.”

Under O’Leary’s leadership, Washington County Public Health has an approved strategic plan, is working toward national accreditation, and is actively engaged in health reform. The county’s epidemiology and chronic disease prevention programs have been developed under her tenure.

At the state level, O’Leary provided technical assistance to administrators and nursing supervisors around public health practice issues. As part of that work, she was one of three public health nurses who developed a Public Health Nursing Leadership Institute in Oregon to expand the quality and quantity of public health nurse leaders.

O’Leary recently concluded her term as a board member with Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. She is the immediate past Chair of the Conference of Local Health Officials in Oregon and recently served on the Governor’s Early Learning Design workgroup and the Oregon Public Health Advisory Board.  

O’Leary is retiring later this year. Marni Storey of Clark County Public Health has been hired to replace her.

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