Since the start of 2025, the Health Department has had three leaders start their roles. Two new directors started their roles in Public Health and Corrections Health in January, while the new Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy, Racial Justice and Equity recently joined the Director's Office in late February.
At a time when excellence, proven performance and continuity are essential to helping the Health Department best meet the needs of our communities, these three individuals bring years of sound leadership demonstrated in their prior roles, as well as a deep commitment to serving the public.
“We are excited to welcome these three leaders to the Health Department,” said Health Department Director Rachael Banks. “The expertise and energy they each bring will be essential to meeting the challenges of this moment and to moving toward the healthy future we envision.”
Public Health Director Kirsten Aird
Kirsten Aird joined Multnomah County as the new Public Health Director on Jan. 13, 2025. She previously served as the Deputy Public Health Director at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
As OHA’s Deputy Public Health Director, Aird was responsible for more than 1,000 staff and a $1.5 billion biennium budget. She is a seasoned public health leader and trusted facilitator of equity-driven initiatives with more than 23 years of experience in health policy, strategic planning, and organizational change.
Before taking the deputy director role, Aird served as Business Operations Director in OHA’s Public Health Division, where she advanced continuous quality improvement and performance management. Her tenure at OHA also included managing chronic disease programs, overseeing federal grants, and leading innovative initiatives like the Sustainable Relationships for Community Health grant.
Aird also has a deep commitment to education, reflected in her role as a School Board Director for the Lake Oswego School District since 2019. Aird holds her master’s in Public Health Policy and Management from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from Linfield College.
Aird complements her professional expertise with volunteerism, including her service as board president for the Chelsea Hicks Foundation from 2011 to 2017. She is a passionate advocate for public health equity and a dynamic leader dedicated to making meaningful impacts in Oregon and beyond.
Corrections Health Director Michael D. Crandell
Michael D. Crandell joined Multnomah County as the new Corrections Health Director on Jan. 21, 2025. Crandell brings to this role a wealth of professional and educational experiences, with many years of public service.
Crandell has worked in a variety of senior leadership roles in healthcare operations for more than 25 years, primarily focusing on outpatient operations with an emphasis on primary care, employee engagement, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer for Southern Oregon Cardiology in Medford, Oregon, and as Executive Director for Dignity Health Medical Foundation, Mercy Medical Group in Sacramento, California.
Crandell completed his doctorate in Healthcare Administration from A.T. Still University in 2019 and holds a master’s in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University. Crandell teaches part-time at Sacramento State University in their undergraduate healthcare administration program. He previously taught for Grand Canyon University and DeVry University Healthcare Administration programs. He has been teaching for close to 15 years.
Crandell retired after serving on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps officer for 23 years in a variety of healthcare leadership roles. He has been a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) for more than 20 years and currently serves as a board member for the Oregon Healthcare Leaders Association.
Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy, Racial Justice and Equity Angela Henderson
Angela Henderson joined Multnomah County on February 28, 2025, as the Health Department’s Deputy Director, focused on Policy, Strategy, and Equity. Henderson has more than 30 years of public service experience, most recently with the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, where she served as Interim Deputy Director and Equity Manager, among other roles.
Henderson’s career is rooted in policy development and strategic leadership. She has worked across federal, state, and local programs overseeing regulatory compliance, environmental protections, and equity-focused programs and initiatives that center public health. She describes her approach as “always centered on equity, grounded in collaboration and sustainable impact, and propelled by a deep responsibility to the communities we serve.”
As Deputy Director of Strategy and Policy, Racial Justice and Equity, Henderson will provide leadership in shaping and advancing department-wide policy, strategy, and frameworks that center racial justice, equity, and community partnerships as core principles across all aspects of the department’s work. Among the key priorities of this position is building out and managing the department’s Office of Health Equity as part of our strategy to strengthen and expand the department’s racial justice and equity efforts both internally and externally.
Through strategic vision, leadership, and collaboration, Henderson will serve in the Health Department’s Director’s Office alongside Deputy Director of Operations Valdez Bravo, who will work in partnership with Director Banks to ensure that equity, strategy, and operational effectiveness are normalized and integrated into Health Department decision-making, policies, programs, and practices.
Outside of work, Henderson finds the greatest joy in spending time with her family — cooking and laughing together, celebrating milestones, and reliving cherished memories while creating new ones. She loves the challenge of a crossword or Sudoku puzzle, getting lost in a good book, and enjoying nature through long walks or camping. Other favorite pastimes include volleyball, softball, and traveling to experience new cultures and places.