Charlene Cariou is an enthusiastic and self-proclaimed public health nerd looking to improve the health of individuals and communities and support the workforce that serves them. Professionally, she is a Community Health Manager with Southwest District Health, a regional Public Health District serving six counties in southwest Idaho. In this role, she leads the Community Health Team to identify community needs, implement programs to increase preventive health behaviors and change health outcomes, and evaluate our health impact across SWDH’s 6-county region. Charlene has 20 years of experience in healthcare and public health, working at both the state and local levels, and serving in volunteer leadership positions with state and national public health associations, including as an elected member of the APHA Executive Board and as Board Chair in 2023. Lastly, Charlene completed her Master of Health Science at Boise State University and is pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago. In her free time, you’ll find Charlene traveling, checking out a new restaurant, or enjoying a relaxing day at home with her family.