South Heartland District Health Director Michelle Bever announces retirement

Hastings, NE – The Board of Health for South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD), serving Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties, today announced the retirement of health director, Michele Bever, effective March, 2027. After 23 years of dedicated service to public health in south central Nebraska, including more than 18 years as health director, Bever will be stepping down to begin her retirement.

Under Bever’s leadership, SHDHD has successfully navigated unprecedented public health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, while expanding essential wellness and preventive care programs for the health district. During her tenure as director, the department grew from 8 staff to 28 staff and earned national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board in March 2020.

Over the years, Bever grew the department’s programing to include immunizations, chronic disease prevention, mental well-being, substance use prevention, senior health, and access to care. More recent program additions include preventive oral health care, home visitation (Healthy Families America program), STI testing, and environmental health services - air quality, water quality, lead poisoning prevention.

“Serving our communities and working to meet public health needs in our district has been the honor of a lifetime,” Bever said. “One of my favorite parts of this work has been building amazing relationships with community partners and working together on shared goals for health improvement. I am also incredibly proud of our SHDHD team. Together, we have navigated some difficult times and we have strengthened our community’s health infrastructure. I look forward to watching the department continue to evolve going forward.”

“Michele’s commitment and passion for public health have set us on a good path for the future,” said Board President Sandra (Sam) Nejezchleb of Clay County. We will be searching for the right person to lead the department in order to successfully navigate the challenges and take full advantage of the exciting opportunities in public health right now,” she said.

At their Board Meeting on Wednesday morning, July 1, the SHDHD Board of Health appointed a succession committee to oversee the process of selecting a new health director.

For more information about SHDHD’s services, public health initiatives, and community programs, please visit www.southheartlandhealth. ne.gov.