Nowak appointed to lead McLeod County Public Health

Kathy Nowak will take the reins as McLeod County’s Public Health Agency coordinator when the current director, Becky Felling, retires effective April 30.

Nowak currently coordinates the county’s immunization, infectious disease prevention and control, and emergency preparedness efforts. She was recommended for the new leadership role by a selection committee and the County Board on Tuesday approved her promotion.

Nowak brings considerable experience to the job, as she started working for Public Health in December 1980. She is the department’s most senior public health nurse and since 1995 has led the department when Felling has been absent. From 1992 to 2004, she was a volunteer emergency medical technician with ambulance crews and currently volunteers with the Red Cross bloodmobile.

Nowak said she’s excited for the future. “I love challenges and new opportunities,” she added. “We have a great bunch of people in our office … It will be great working with them in a different capacity.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)