Snohomish Health District picks a new leader: Dr. James Lewis

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, June 15, 2022

EVERETT — Snohomish Health District tapped its new leader on Tuesday.

Dr. James Lewis, a medical epidemiologist with Public Health — Seattle & King County, will take the helm Aug. 1 and steer the district through a major transition. By next year, the district will become a new county department, hopefully with more funding and direct services.

Lewis is a licensed medical doctor and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Washington. He replaces Dr. Chris Spitters, who announced his departure last year after more than two decades with the health district.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Snohomish Health District and am very excited to be joining at a time of important change with the District joining the county,” Lewis said in a news release. “I am excited for the possibilities that step opens up, and I look forward to working with the team at the Snohomish Health District to make that merge a success.”

All 11 Board of Health members who attended Tuesday’s meeting voted to approve Lewis.

The doctor earned his master of public health degree at the University of North Carolina and his doctor of medicine from the University of Arkansas. He formerly worked with North Carolina Division of Public Health.