State Health Commissioner comes to HamCo first

Dr. Lindsay Weaver discusses public health priorities with Health Department

Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver visited the Hamilton County Health Department on Friday, July 10, as the first stop on her statewide tour to visit all 92 Indiana counties.

Hamilton County Health Department staff, representatives from the Indiana Department of Health, and local community partner Trinity Free Clinic discussed opportunities to expand access to healthcare for underserved populations, strengthen community partnerships, and address mental health.

The visit provided the Hamilton County Health Department with an opportunity to share successes, discuss challenges, and identify future public health priorities.

“We appreciate the chance to sit down with Dr. Weaver and have an open conversation about the work we’re doing,” said Jason LeMaster, administrator of the Hamilton County Health Department. “It was a great opportunity to share what’s working, talk through the challenges we’re facing, and discuss how we can better serve our community moving forward.”

Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver and Hamilton County Health Department Administrator Jason LeMaster. (Photo provided)

Some of the challenges discussed included changes in state and federal funding, shifts in legislation, and communication and collaboration between state and local health departments. The conversation emphasized the value of working together to strengthen public health infrastructure and ensure communities continue to receive essential public health services.

Following the discussion, attendees toured Trinity Free Clinic’s mobile health unit, which provides free healthcare services to the community and was funded in part by grants from the Health Department.

Dr. Weaver commended the department on its leadership in public health.

“Hamilton County is recognized across Indiana as a leader in public health,” Dr. Weaver said. “Every county has unique challenges, but we all share the same goal of improving the health of our residents. Visits like this help us learn from one another and build stronger public health systems throughout Indiana.”