By Sarah Sullivan
Intern
Phillip Tarte will begin the position of health director for New Hanover County on July 19. Tarte spent the last nine years as public health director for Union County and has 21 years’ experience in the health field.
“We are fortunate to have the ability to hire an experienced health director who is respected by his peers within the state,” New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet stated in a news release. “Mr. Tarte will positively impact our citizens while demonstrating the county’s shared values of professionalism, integrity, innovation, stewardship and accountability.”
In Union County, Tarte managed a staff of 120 health-care professionals as well as a budget of nearly $11.6 million. He has served as a board member for the N.C. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Advisory Board and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. He is chair of the Union County Transportation Advisory Board as well as former chair of Hospice Union County.
Dr. Kim Thrasher Horne, chair of the New Hanover County Board of Health, said the decision to hire Tarte was unanimous.
A North Carolina native originally from Columbus County, Tarte received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He has a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Tarte takes over for David Rice, who is retiring effective July 1 after 18 years in the post.
