GARY COX, JD

Gary Cox is the new Director of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) as of October 1, 2009. Mr. Cox comes to OCCHD with the wealth of knowledge, having been Director of the Tulsa City-County Health Department since 1994.

As Director, Mr. Cox’s responsibilities include the administration and enforcement of all municipal and county ordinances, rules and regulations relating to public health matters, as well as administration of state laws, and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health pertaining to public health. Mr. Cox began his career as an educator. He has been privileged to serve in public health for over 40 years, beginning as an environmentalist. He received his law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Tulsa and was previously legal counsel for the Health Department, as well as adjunct professor of environmental law. Leadership responsibilities include: Past President, Oklahoma Public Health Association; member of the American Public Health Association; Past President, Indian Nations Council of Governments; Executive Committee, Tulsa Turning Point and National Public Health Leadership Society. Mr. Cox also serves as immediate Past President of the National Association of City-County Health Officials (NACCHO). Additionally, Mr. Cox served on the Community-Based Participatory Prevention Research Grant Review Panel for the CDC, as well as a National Advisory Committee member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is also a visiting Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health.

Mr. Cox has dedicated his career to improving public health, advocating for public health issues and seeking broad based support for public health initiatives.