Keith Reed, RN, MPH, CPH, is Oklahoma’s Commissioner of Health, and has worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) for 25 years. Reed, who got his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from NSU, also has his Masters of Public Health from OU. Alongside his dedication to the OSDH, Reed is a member of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, serving multiple tours in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. We caught up with Reed and got his thoughts on … 

… his unwavering dedication to OSDH. 

I joined the Oklahoma State Department of Health in December 2002, shortly after returning from an extended military deployment following the September 11 attacks. During this time, public health joined the first responder community in preparing for bioterrorism threats. It felt like the perfect convergence – my military experience, the call to protect and the emerging bioterrorism preparedness unit at OSDH. Once I stepped into public health, I knew it wasn’t just a career path for me; it was my calling.

… how his military background helps him professionally.

A military officer undergoes extensive leadership training and experiences; while much of it is operationally specific, the core leadership tenets transfer to non-military sectors. This training equipped me to understand leadership impact in varied environments, preparing me to adapt to internal and external forces that shape the health care industry. 

However, it is crucial to maintain an awareness of the differences between military and civilian leadership. Military leadership carries significant weight, directly enabled through military law. The heavy-handedness possibly available to a military commander is not and should not be wielded in the same way in a civilian environment. I am constantly aware of these differences, which grounds me in how I lead in my military and civilian careers. 

… a day in the life.

I prefer to start my day early, usually arriving at the office by 6:45 a.m. to have some quiet time to respond to emails and prepare for the day. I oversee the agency’s internal and external operations, which are funded by local, state and federal sources. We have significant regulatory responsibilities that span food establishments, lodging facilities, certain health care facilities and detention centers. We also oversee our 68 county health departments, which are divided among 10 regions. Our broad mission requires us to engage with our numerous partners and stakeholders. Simply put, my day can vary significantly depending on the circumstances, but it typically involves a mix of agency operations, external interactions and ongoing communication.

… how the OSDH helps Oklahomans.

Our mission is to protect and promote health, prevent disease and injury, and cultivate conditions by which Oklahomans can thrive. This is no easy task, as ‘health’ encompasses more than one may think. According to America’s health rankings, Oklahoma ranks 47th overall, with rankings of 45th for Social and Economic Factors, 49th for Physical Environment, 46th for Clinical Care, 47th for Behaviors, and 39th for Health Outcomes. Key drivers of health – including education, housing, income, food insecurity and access to health care – significantly impact an individual’s health and ability to thrive. That is why we must engage with partners and recognize that we are part of a larger public health system. 

Within the broader mission, we work behind the scenes to safeguard Oklahomans as they go about their daily lives, such as ensuring families can dine out without worry and collaborating with the food industry to maintain safety standards.

… the link between economic prosperity and health improvement. 

Health and economic prosperity are closely connected, as economic challenges lead to food insecurity, issues accessing health care, and barriers to a healthy lifestyle. These issues impact the workforce, resulting in lost productivity and increased business recruiting costs. An added result of poor population health is increased healthcare costs within the state. A state’s economic status influences its population’s health status, and vice versa, creating a direct link between the two.

… his goals.

Over the past three and a half years, I’ve focused heavily on laying the foundation for our future success by strengthening the agency’s core, addressing past fiscal issues, and modernizing our systems to enhance operational efficiency. Thus, I’ve ensured a stable and more effective organization moving forward. We have a more stable and efficient platform to build upon while remaining committed to continuous process improvement.

Amidst navigating governmental transitions, my goal is to shift and adopt a more outward-focused agenda. I embrace our responsibility as a convener to bring health care and public health partners to the table, leveraging collective expertise to strengthen the state’s health care system and ensure it meets the needs of the modern era.