Ozarks Profile: Kevin Gipson

What is your job?

I am responsible for delivering comprehensive and diverse public health service to the citizens of Springfield and Greene County. We have over 60 different health programs we are responsible for, which vary from animal control, air-quality monitoring, food inspections and other environmental services to direct health care services, nursing services and health education, to name a few. We have a budget of over $7 million and a staff of over 100.

Your predecessor, Harold Bengsch, left some big shoes to fill. How are you dealing with that?

It was a bit intimidating at first because Harold is a public health legend in this area, in Missouri and nationally. As I have gotten into the job I am much more comfortable. Harold left this department in very good shape and I have spent 10 years working under him and learning from him. That has made the transition a smooth one.

What do you see as the biggest public health issue in this area?

The biggest challenges we face in public health are the maintenance of resources to do our jobs. Often times, you will have national public health issues occur that require the refocusing of efforts and resources. We saw it in the early 1980s with HIV/AIDS, and more recently following 9-11 and the anthrax incidents. It is important to remember that we still need to focus on the constant challenges of preventing diseases, such as tuberculosis and gonorrhea, and providing preventative health messages to help lessen the burden of chronic disease, even though there are more sensational public health issues in the news. It is important to help focus people on the importance of public health and how it impacts their daily lives. The profession of public health is a stealth profession. When we do our job, no one knows about it.

What has been the most challenging part of your new position?

The most challenging part of this job is the complexity and diversity of the programs. I am extremely lucky to have very skilled managers and staff who understand these programs and execute them in a very efficient manner. Finding and developing a quality public health work force is a challenge facing many public health leaders in this country.

Tell us about your family and spare-time interests.

I am a native of Crane, Missouri, and learned a great deal of my communication skills from hanging out at the barbershop where my father has been cutting hair for over 40 years. My mother taught at Crane for 30 years before retiring a few years ago. I have been married for 15 years to Linda Gipson, who also is my best friend. We have two boys Stuart, 13, and Sam, 10. Linda has been the foundation of my success. Linda has a full-time job working for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and a full-time job managing the Gipson household. I like to play golf and fish, but the last few years I have been watching a great deal of youth baseball. Both of my kids play. Stuart has played on a traveling team the last couple of years, so we have spent the summers all over the Midwest. Sam is a little less interested, but is becoming more involved in athletics.