Quintana Stewart, the health director who helped lead Orange County through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is departing the role this summer.
Orange County shared a release on Thursday, announcing Stewart’s plans to leave after nine years at the helm of the local government’s health department. The Orange County Board of Health met on Monday night and confirmed its selection of Dorothy Celinti as the interim director while the county conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
Stewart arrived to Orange County following a stint as the Forsyth County assistant health director and a total of 16 years working in the state’s public health system. Continuing innovation and racial equity improvements in health were some of her top goals — but her position became highlighted during the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent shelter-in-place orders issued by the state and county governments. Stewart’s leadership, connections and advice led to Orange County being among the state’s leaders in recommending — and receiving — vaccinations against the virus and wearing face masks to limit its spread, including beyond the state’s recommendations.
As a result of her work, Stewart earned the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Heroic Hands Award, 2022 Ron Levine Public Health Legacy Award and the 2021 Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award, as well as a Hometown Hero recognition from the Chapel Hill Media Group in 2021. Orange County said in its release that the government “extends its sincere appreciation to Quintana Stewart for her years of dedicated service and wishes her continued success in her future endeavors,” and Stewart will be honored by the Board of Orange County Commissioners during its meeting on July 9.
Celinti is no stranger to the Orange County community, nor the role as interim health director. Her primary professional role is associate dean for public health practice at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, but she has held several senior public health roles at the county level. In addition to working for Alamance, Chatham and Wake counties at different times, this marks Celinti’s third time holding Orange County’s interim position, having previously served in the role in 2011 and 2017 before Stewart’s hire.
The full release from Orange County can be read on the local government’s website.
Photo of Quintana Stewart via UNC-Greensboro and photo of Dorothy Celinti via UNC Gillings School of Public Health.
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