Sedessie Spivey D.BA., MS

Dr. Spivey is an accomplished public health professional with over 20 years of experience promoting health equity, empowering communities, and building strategic partnerships. She serves as the Program Manager of the Health Assessment and Promotion Department at DeKalb Public Health. She manages multidisciplinary teams focused on community health research, injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, and health equity.

Dr. Spivey leads efforts to expand mobile health and build community partnerships, bringing wellness services directly to the people who need them most. Her work in chronic disease prevention at the local level highlights the role of local public health in addressing the root causes of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. She fosters healthier communities by combining evidence-based strategies with policy, systems, and environmental changes.

She recognizes the value of local and federal collaboration, where trusted relationships at every level turn local priorities into practical solutions. Through these partnerships, DeKalb Public Health has been awarded funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a range of initiatives, including Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), Georgia Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL), and Community Health Improvement Planning. Dr. Spivey serves as principal investigator for these initiatives.

Dr. Spivey works to bring together residents, healthcare systems, schools, faith-based organizations, and local and federal agencies as active and equal partners in improving health outcomes. Guided by the community voice, she is committed to sustainable transformation through leadership and strategic initiatives.