Juliann Van Liew, currently a director with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, has been named Polk County Health Department’s director.

Van Liew, who will be paid $150,260 annually, begins her new position on Dec. 18. She will train with current Director Helen Eddy, who is retiring in mid-January.

Van Liew has spent over a decade leading public health initiatives at the local and state levels. She currently is director of wellness and preventive health for the state’s health department. She previously led the Unified Government Public Health Department in Wyandotte County, Kan., and served as program manager for the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Van Liew is a graduate of Drake University with degrees in international relations and political science. She has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota and is pursuing a doctorate in public health policy from Johns Hopkins University. Van Liew has been recognized as a national leader in public health innovation, earning the 40 Under 40 in Public Health award from the de Beaumont Foundation in 2021.