Heather K. Gates, MPH, BS is the owner and public health consultant providing vision, leadership and support for Hkg Public Health Projects, LLC. Since she began her work in public health in the Fall of 2001, Heather has continued to strive to be a bridge between decision-makers and the communities that are impacted by them. Whether working with local health directors to plan and implement projects, educating local and state policy makers, bringing together research and practice partners, or delivering health education programs, her work is driven by a passion to help promote and protect the public’s health.
“After getting my degree in Biomedical Science from the University of South Alabama,” Heather says, “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into public health or the medical field. So I decided to join AmeriCorps and spend some time working in a real world, maternal and child health setting. Soon after beginning my role as a family health educator, home visiting pregnant women in North Nashville, I knew without a doubt that I needed to be involved in helping prevent the cause, not just treat the symptoms; I have been filled with a passion for public health ever since.”
After working in research and evaluation at the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville, TN, Heather moved to North Carolina to pursue her Master in Public Health (MPH) Degree in Health Behavior and Health Education at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has worked in public health evaluation, project coordination, leadership, and consulting roles through various positions working with North Carolina’s local public health departments, universities, and Public Health Associations since 2004.
Now working and parenting in Western North Carolina, Heather feels that serving as a consultant on various public health projects across the state, provides the flexibility and family-friendly work environment to keep her a more balanced, efficient, and effective public health professional. In addition to her work on several public health projects, Heather currently serves as a board member of the Henderson County Partnership for Health, Inc., NC Citizens for Public Health, Inc., and is an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Health and Wellness at the Unveristy of North Carolina - Asheville.