About Us
Two health districts serving the residents of the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and the Counties of James City and York.
Our Mission: To promote community well-being and advance health equity through data-informed decision-making and collaborative partnerships that ensure accessible and responsive services for the residents of the Virginia Peninsula.
Our Vision: To cultivate communities that encourage each individual’s access to resources needed to live a healthy, empowered quality of life.
Our Values: Our work is guided by these core values: access, equity, collaboration, respect and holistic health.
Our Leadership
Natasha Dwamena, MD, MPH, FACOG, Health District Director
Dr. Natasha Dwamena, MD, FACOG, MPH, serves as the Director of the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts, which serves the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and Poquoson, York County and James City County. As health district director, Dr. Dwamena serves as the chief health strategist for the 6 Peninsula localities, leads and ensures delivery of the public health programs and services mandated by VDH. She is a medical physician, Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She graduated from Stanford University with Honors and obtained her Medical Degree from New Jersey Medical School. She completed her residency training at Meharry Medical College, where she served as Chief Resident, and ultimately earned her Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University in Washington D.C.
Nickol Todd, MPH, PMP, Chief Operations Officer
Nickol Todd, MPH, PMP, serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading complex operations across federal, nonprofit, and private‑sector healthcare organizations. Nickol partners with the Health District Director and other leaders to drive high‑quality public health services through strategic operational, administrative, fiscal, and policy guidance. She oversees resource planning, compliance, and cross‑program operational alignment, advancing strategic initiatives that improve the health of Virginians across the districts. She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University, a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from The Cooper Union, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).
Tes La Dieu, MPH, Community Health Improvement Manager
Tes La Dieu, MPH, serves as the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Manager and Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts (HPHD), bringing over 10 years of experience in leadership, communications, and public health. In her role as CHI Manager, Tes provides strategic oversight for community health improvement initiatives, including HPHD's substance use program, Project LEAD, the Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, Re-Entry, PrEP, and more. In her role as PIO, Tes manages all media interviews, public relations, and communications. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Virginia 's School of Medicine, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Foreign Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, both from the University of Virginia.
Chris Layton, MPA, Business Manager
Christopher Layton, MPA, serves as the Business Manager for the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts. He is responsible for managing administrative functions of the Districts to include budgeting, fiscal management, purchasing, facilities management, and other non-clinical tasks. With over thirty-years of public sector experience, including nearly twenty-five years as a chief administrative officer for King and Queen County, Va, and the Towns of Duck and Plymouth, NC, he brings a solid and practical understanding of the interaction between the Districts and the localities we serve. Chris received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of William and Mary and a Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Amy Wagner, RN, Nurse Manager Sr.
Amy Wagner, MSN, RN, CIC, serves as the Nurse Manager Senior for the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts with more than 30 years of experience in nursing, education, public health, and infection prevention. She has worked across emergency, acute, critical, and community health settings and has held various roles with the Virginia Department of Health for over a decade.
Mary Wainwright, MS, Environmental Health Manager
Mary L. Wainwright, MS, REHS, serves as the Environmental Health Manager for the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts, overseeing a team of more than 20 staff who deliver core services including food safety, hotel and pool inspections, onsite well and septic evaluations, and rabies prevention. She brings over 18 years of experience in public health and environmental health and holds a national REHS credential.