After 25 years in public health and 40 years in nursing, Cheryl Alexander, longtime administrator of the Daviess County Health Department, is retiring.
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The staff at the health department would like to thank Cheryl for her many years of dedication and service to the community. To say that she will be missed is an understatement. Working with someone so passionate, caring, and knowledgeable has been a blessing to everyone at DCHD.
Due to gathering restrictions and in the spirit of maintaining a safe and healthy community the Health Department is unable to have an open reception. Send cards to 609A South Main Street, Gallatin, MO 64640
Farewell … from Cheryl Alexander
I cannot believe I have worked at the health department 25 years or that I have been a nurse for 40+ years. I started my nursing career as a CNA working at Wright Memorial Hospital before applying for the LPN program at NCMC, back then known as Trenton Junior College.
When I graduated with my LPN degree, I was lucky enough to work for Dr. Larry Dickinson for about a year. Being able to work with him gave me the confidence and knowledge to work in community health and for that I want to say thank you! I then spent 13 years in Long Term Care at Hillcrest Manor in Hamilton. During this time, I became the Director of Nursing and went back to school for my RN degree. I was the DON for five years at Hillcrest.
In 1996, I took a part-time position at the Daviess County Health Department as a home health nurse. What was supposed to be a part-time position became full-time and I have never looked back. Community health was my true passion and I have been lucky enough to continue here at the health department until my retirement the end of this month.
Although I became the administrator in 2016, I have always continued to work as a nurse alongside some great people. I have had the privilege of working with a Board of Directors who I could always count on and turn to if needed. I have seen H1N1 flu, floods, and of course COVID pandemic during my tenure.
Of course, the community is the real reason I have enjoyed this position so much, being able to help those in the community whether it was home health, working in the office at a clinic, drawing labs, or just talking to someone who had health questions over the phone; this has been a rewarding career. I have had the privilege of working with supportive county commissioners, being part of the LEPC and many other coalitions in Northwest Missouri and I will greatly miss my fellow health department administrators.
I am looking forward to relaxing and traveling with my husband Gary, or just doing nothing for a while! We also enjoy showing a couple of classic cars and plan to do the car show circuit (COVID permitting). I would like to thank all of you for your past support and continued support of the health department. We have all new faces at the health department, but I have all the confidence in the world they will do a great job to keep this community safe and healthy. Looking back on what has been the toughest year of my career I am glad I was here in this community. Thank you again.
Cheryl Alexander
Daviess County Health Department