ATLANTA – Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., and the Georgia Department of Public Health mourn the death of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and express our sincere condolences to former President Jimmy Carter and the Carter family.

Mrs. Carter was a dedicated champion of public health working to ensure that children in Georgia and across the country were immunized and protected against preventable diseases. Because of her support of vaccinations, generations of children have grown up never experiencing diseases such as measles, or chickenpox, or whooping cough.

For this, and for her tireless work to address mental health and homelessness which impact aspects of public health every day, we offer our profound thanks and gratitude.