Physical Activity
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Nutrition Branch

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Jimmy Newkirk

Physical Activity Manager
Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch
N.C. Division of Public Health

Jimmy Newkirk serves as the Assistant Branch Head and Physical Activity Manager for the Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Branch, N.C. Division of Public Health. He is committed to increasing physical activity and healthy eating among North Carolinians by creating and enhancing opportunities through policy and environmental change.

Jimmy provides consultation, technical assistance, and resource development for numerous initiatives such as Active Community Environments, Faithful Families and physical activity in school age children. He chairs the NC Healthy Environments Collaborative, staffs the Eat Smart Move More NC Advocacy Committee and serves as a representative and liaison for statewide partnerships such as NC Transportation Enhancement Advisory Committee, NC Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and the NC Office on Disabilities and Health.

Throughout his 19 plus years of professional experience with exercise science, health promotion and public contact, Jimmy has presented for numerous national, state and local audiences. He recently served as President of the National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health and is currently chairing the Public Health Workgroup as part of the development of the National Physical Activity Plan. He will serve as faculty to the 2009 Physical Activity in Public Health Course, sponsored by CDC and the University of South Carolina and serves as liaison to many other collaborative groups.

Prior to joining the PAN Branch, Jimmy served as the Regional Coordinator for the Cardiovascular Health Program in 12 southeastern counties in North Carolina, providing expertise on policy and environmental approaches to health promotion. He has served as the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness for a US Army Hospital in Germany where he was responsible for the creation, marketing and evaluation of all health promotion activities for community, media, patients and medical staff. Jimmy has also worked as the Assistant Director of the Wellness Research Laboratory at the University of Maryland. He served in the US Army for four years as a photojournalist working with various media including military and civilian magazines, newspapers, advertisements and television.

Jimmy earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland and is a current member of the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as well as the National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health.