DOH-Lee Celebrates 75 years of Public Health Services in Lee County

Lee County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH‑Lee) is celebrating 75 years of protecting, promoting, and improving the health of the Lee County community. Since opening in 1951, DOH‑Lee has grown from its original schoolhouse location into a comprehensive public health agency providing clinical care, infectious disease prevention, environmental health services, emergency preparedness, and community wellness programs.

Major milestones include the opening of the Michigan Avenue main office in 1975, expanded environmental public health services in the 1980s, the launch of Healthy Start in 1992, Tobacco Prevention youth education beginning in 1998, and the Healthy Beaches water quality monitoring program starting in 2000. DOH‑Lee has continued to strengthen community health through coordinated responses to outbreaks and major hurricanes, along with ongoing expansion of core services.

Community members can explore available programs and locations on our website.

Historical Exhibition: October 1-31

A special historical exhibition celebrating 75 years of public health in Lee County will be on display at the Dunbar–Jupiter Hammon Public Library throughout October. The exhibit highlights key moments in DOH‑Lee’s history, showcasing how public health has grown and evolved to support a thriving community.

Storytimes Celebrating 75 Years of Public Health

To further commemorate the anniversary, DOH‑Lee is partnering with the Lee County Library System to host special storytimes for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers. These sessions promote early wellness while offering caregivers simple tools to support healthy habits. Registration is required.

Upcoming 75th Anniversary Storytimes