Two NCDHHS leaders, Dr. Victoria Mobley and Larry Michael, were recently recognized by their peers for exemplary contributions to public health in North Carolina with the Ron H. Levine Public Health Award. The award was presented at the annual North Carolina Public Health Leader’s Conference on March 16 in Raleigh.
This prestigious award is named for former North Carolina State Health Director Dr. Ron Levine. Since 2004, 28 individuals and 85 public health directors have been similarly honored for their distinguished efforts to improve the public health system, expand the scope or capacity of public health services, or build new and lasting partnerships.
“We are fortunate to have these two remarkable leaders on our team,” said Dr. Susan Kansagra, Director of NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health. “They have made a lasting and positive change within our public health system and exemplify the Division of Public Health’s commitment to improving the health of our communities.”
Dr. Victoria Mobley serves as the HIV/STD Medical Director at the NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health and the Director of the NC Epidemiology Field Services Unit, where she leads communicable disease outbreak responses and raises awareness for this core public health work. Dr. Mobley is a tireless champion for equity and ensuring access to health for all people. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health, Dr. Mobley energetically introduces students to careers on the front lines of public health, including Field Epidemiologist and Disease Intervention Specialist roles.
Additionally, she helped launch North Carolina’s COVID-19 contact tracing and case outreach efforts and helped increase awareness and response to the Mpox outbreak.
Dr. Mobley’s contributions have garnered several awards, including the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence, COVID-19 Response Team; Visionary of the Year, Community Roots Award from Triangle Empowerment Center, Inc.; and, the David Jolly “Excellence at the State” Award, North Carolina Community AIDS Foundation.
Dr. Mobley received a B.S. and M.D. degree from Duke University and an M.P.H. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She completed her residency in internal medicine at John Hopkins University and her Fellowship and Postdoctoral in Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Larry Michael has dedicated his career to environmental health and safety for North Carolinians. Beginning as an environmental health specialist in Lee County, he currently serves as the State Environmental Health Director and Chief of the Environmental Health Section with NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health. Prior to this role, he was head of the Food Protection and Facilities Branch where he led a team to adopt the FDA Food Code and modernize the state’s food safety inspection system.
Under Micahel's leadership, the State has tested for lead in drinking water at all childcare facilities in North Carolina and is working with partners to expand this testing to all public schools, including testing and remediation of lead-based paint and asbestos hazards. He also led the environmental health effort to adapt and assist public health through rule updates and adoptions to changes in legislation to help during the COVID-19 pandemic and was recently awarded the Governor’s Award of Excellence for the work he did to help in the COVID-19 response.
Michael earned a B.S. in Environmental Health from East Carolina University and an M.P.H. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.