Roger L. Harrell, MHA
Roger Harrell was raised in New Bern, North Carolina, and has lived in Maryland since 1973. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971 and a Master of Hospital Administration from the Medical College of Virginia in 1973.
He has held senior executive positions in investor-owned, public, and private healthcare organizations, and served as Chief Public Health Official for Dorchester County, Maryland, for 28 years before retiring on April 1, 2025.
Roger remains active in his community, serving on numerous boards. His leadership roles include District Governor, Rotary District 7630 (2011–2012); President, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (2011–2013); Past President, Public Mental Health Authority; and Past Campaign Chair, County United Way Campaign. He also served on the Maryland Governor’s Councils on Cancer Control and Prevention and Heart Disease Control and Prevention. In 2009, he received the Clara Barton Award from the local American Red Cross Chapter for his volunteer work. Additionally, he was a part-time lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
As Past President of the Rotary Club of Cambridge, Maryland, Roger institutionalized the club’s weekly newsletter and introduced the Dictionary Project. He received the Club’s Public Service Person of the Year Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Roger has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Maryland Association of County Health Officers (MACHO) for 26 years. He continues to volunteer in this role, working with the Executive Director and MACHO leadership to ensure a smooth transition to his successor, including consulting with the newly selected Treasurer.
