Meet the 2008 Scholars

Shirley (Ellie) Ward
Nursing Director
Dare County Department of Public Health
North Carolina

Shirley “Ellie” Ward is the Director for the Dare County Department of Public Health’s Home Health and Hospice Division, and has served in this capacity since 2000.  She is responsible for all aspects of agency operations and participates in many public health leadership activities in her role as Director, including program and policy development, facilitation of community collaborations in support of public health, participation in strategic planning, and financial management.  Ellie is responsible for a staff of 15 employees as well as 10 contract staff and over 40 volunteers serving in the home health, hospice and respite care programs.

Ellie grew up in Southern California and moved to New York City in 1989.  She is a registered nurse obtaining her AS degree in 1985 and BS degree from New York University in 1995.  She has worked as an emergency department nurse in Los Angeles and New York City for most of her career, switching to home health and hospice after re-locating to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1996.  Ellie is a published author having co-written an article with Anne Thomas that appeared in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice titled "Peer Power: How Dare County, North Carolina is addressing Chronic Disease Through Innovative Programming."

Ellie is an active and involved member of her community regularly attending Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church.  She enjoys shopping, antiquing, gardening and reading.