The Rowan County Democratic Party will host guest speaker and Rowan County Public Health Director Alyssa Smith Harris the Democratic Headquarters, 1504 W. Innes St., Salisbury on Saturday at 10 a.m during its monthly breakfast.

She will address current health challenges specific to Rowan County, such as cancer, drug abuse, obesity and other diseases. Her talk will also address the challenges the county may face due to the current uncertainties in our federal health care system.

Harris serves as the public health director providing direction and oversight for preventing illness and disease, promoting health and protecting the community. A Rowan County native, she returned home after earning her undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public health at the University of South Carolina.

Harris is currently working on her doctorate in public health at UNC Chapel Hill. Her passion is in making the healthy choice the easier choice, advocating for community health, encouraging collaboration among agencies and modernizing local public health to support vital conditions for healthy living.

The doors open at 9:45 am. Breakfast is a potluck and the organization ask that attendees bring food to share if possible.