Tarrant County Commissioners Appoint New Public Health Director

Today, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court appointed Dr. Brian Byrd as the new Tarrant County Public Health Director.

Byrd, 53, a native of Tarrant County is a practicing physician who founded and served as CEO of Texas Family Medicine, a primary care physician group for nearly a quarter of a century, and currently serves as Medical Director for Palm Primary Care.

Commissioners praised Dr. Byrd’s eagerness for stepping into the role.

“Brian Byrd is an inspired choice for the new director of Public Health for Tarrant County,” said Tarrant County Precinct 1 Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks. “He’s got the requisite knowledge about the community and the confidence of the people of Tarrant County to lead that department to its next level of excellence. I thank Dr. Byrd for being willing to step up and make himself available for this next great task ahead of him.”

“An experienced executive, Dr. Byrd brings with him to Tarrant County more than two decades of experience in medicine and in business,” said Tarrant County Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez. “Dr. Byrd has the technical knowledge, the executive leadership experience, and a proven track-record that I know will add tremendous value to the Tarrant County Public Health Department. I am fully supportive of County Administrator Merritt’s appointment, and I am confident that Dr. Byrd will help create the world-class health department that our communities deserve.”

As a former Fort Worth City Council member, Dr. Byrd was instrumental in coordinating resources to the Las Vegas Trail area and the creation of the new Como Community Center for the Como neighborhood. One of the collaborative efforts Byrd helped orchestrate in the community was the involvement of local organizations, including Cook Children’s Health Care System and JPS Health Network who are currently building a new Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center.

“I want us to have the best public health department on all fronts, that is well-integrated into the community, leads with compassion and data while improving the health outcomes of all Tarrant County residents,” Byrd said.

Byrd will begin his tenure as director of Tarrant County Public Health on July 1.