Dr. Bernard H. Eichold II accepted the position of Health Officer for Mobile County on May 1, 1990.
Born and raised in Mobile, Dr. Eichold has obtained multiple academic degrees from Tulane. These include Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Public Health degrees. “Without my education, I could not have served as many persons and organizations,” Dr. Eichold said at that time. “My father stated education is the key to opportunity.”
This love of learning has deep roots in the Eichold family. His father Samuel and mother Charlotte stressed the value of education and community service. Dr. Sam Eichold II was the first Professor Emeritus at the University of South Alabama’s College of Medicine. The Mobile County Public School System recognized his many civic achievements and support of education by naming Eichold-Mertz Elementary School on Government Boulevard in his honor.
Previously when the elementary students advance, they were given a printed bookmark to remind them of Dr. Sam’s sayings: “The Foundations of Life are based on Discipline, Desire, Determination, Discretion and Duty. The Virtues of Life are Courtesy, Cleanliness, Punctuality, and Loyalty.”
Dr. Sam Eichold was presented with the ACP’s Laureate Award in 1993. Two other honorees – John McGehee in 1997 and Steve Davis in 2007 – served with Dr. Bert Eichold in private practice before he became Health Officer.
Dr. Bert Eichold served his country in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of Captain, F.S, M.C. In addition to his medical duties, he has been very active in many civic organizations. Some include, but are not limited to, Mobile United, BIG, Mobile ARC, Chair of the Community Foundation of South Alabama Board, and currently on the Vestry of Christ Church Cathedral.
Dr. Eichold has been an Instructor at Tulane and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. He has served as a Science Advisor and mentor to young scientists in the NASA DEVELOP program based at MCHD. He is Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration.
He has received NASA and U.S. Navy medals, various civic/community awards and is a Fellow in the American College of Physicians. He was presented with the William Henry Sanders Award from the Medical Association of Alabama in 2002 for his many years of service to public health. The Cottage Hill Civitan Club named him as the 2012 Mobilian of the Year.