Newsmakers: May 2025

Sophia Meador

APHA members named to editorial board

Four APHA members were named to the editorial board of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice in January. Dorothy Cilenti, DrPH, MPH, MSW, a clinical professor; and Karl Johnson, PhD, an assistant professor; are both with the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. They were joined by APHA members Lindsay Tallon, PhD, MSPH, CPH, an associate professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and Christina Welter, DrPH, MPH, an associate professor at the University of Chicago School of Public Health.

Williams to lead SOPHE board

The Society for Public Health Education announced the 2025 Board of Trustees in February, naming APHA member Michelle Williams, PhD, MSPH, MPH, MCHES, FAACE, associate professor at George Mason University College of Public Health, as president-elect. The board of trustees at-large include APHA member Deborah Gurgel Smith, PhD, MPH, assistant professor at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; and APHA member Sheree Keitt, DrPH, MPH, CHES, director of public health strategy and programs.

Cohen named advisor

Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, was named national advisor for Manatt Health in March. Cohen previously served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In the new role, she will help support health care delivery and payment innovations.

Award named for Fullilove

The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has honored public health researcher and civil rights activist Robert Fullilove, MS, EdD, by establishing an award in his name. In March, the school announced the Dr. Robert Fullilove Community Impact Award, which will recognize graduate students with exceptional commitment to community public health work. Fullilove, who has been with Columbia University for 35 years, is associate dean for community and minority affairs, a professor of clinical sociomedical sciences and co-director of the Cities Research Group.

Foley named director

Kylee Foley, MPH, was named director of public health for Arlington Health and Human Services Department in Massachusetts in March. Foley is the former health director at Dedham Health Department in Massachusetts. In the new role, she will manage the department’s operations and serve as the staff liaison to the Arlington Board of Health.

Gilmore honored

Amanda Gilmore, PhD, was named the 2025 recipient of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Early Career Research Award in February. Gilmore, an associate professor at Georgia State University School of Public Health, was recognized for several initiatives, including the launch of the university’s National Center for Sexual Violence Prevention.

Hanna recognized

Mona Hanna, MD, MPH, FAAP, was recognized among USA Today’s Women of the Year in February. Hanna is the associate dean for public health at Michigan State University College of Public Health and the founder of Rx Kids. She helped expose the health impacts of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis with a study that was published in APHA’s American Journal of Public Health. The newspaper commended her mission of improving health outcomes for Michigan’s infants and mothers.

Kansagra named chief medical officer

Susan Kansagra, MD, MBA, was named chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in March. Kansagra is a nationally recognized physician with decades of experience in public health leadership, chronic disease prevention and policy development. Most recently, she served as assistant secretary and state health officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Lundi named director

Tamara Lundi, MHA, was named director of public health for the City of Worcester Division of Public Health in Massachusetts in March. Lundi’s background includes more than 10 years of work at UMass Memorial Health and most recently as chief executive officer of Community Healthlink.

Maranto named interim secretary

Drew Maranto, MPA, was named interim secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health in March. Maranto joined the department as chief of staff in January 2024 and was promoted to undersecretary in June.

Navaneethan awarded

Sankar Dass Navaneethan, MD, MPH, MS, was the recipient of the Garabed Eknoyan Award in February. Navaneethan holds multiple roles at Baylor College of Medicin and is the Garabed Eknoyan, MD, endowed professor in nephrology. He was recognized by the National Kidney Foundation for his work.

New state policy leaders announced

The National Academy for State Policy announced 18 new members in February. Among them were Stuart Portman, MPH, Medicaid director at Georgia Department of Community Health; Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, MPH, FIDSA, chief medical executive at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; LeeAnne Cornyn, JD, director of Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; MaryLea Boatwright Quinn, MSW, assistant deputy commissioner at Georgia Department of Human Services; Lee Grossman, MPA, Medicaid director at Wyoming Department of Health; and Judy Mohr Peterson, PhD, Medicaid director at Hawaii Department of Human Services.

Psaki, Romanik appointed as fellows

Stephanie Psaki, PhD, and Nikki Romanik, MD, were appointed as distinguished senior fellows in global health security at Brown University School of Public Health in February. Psaki and Romanik formerly served in the Biden administration, holding top global health advisory positions. In their new roles, they will represent Brown University and collaborate with policymakers on global health and health security.

Rodés-Cabau named editor

Josep Rodés-Cabau, MD, PhD, was named editor-in-chief of Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team in March. Rodés-Cabau, a recognized expert in structural heart disease, previously served as associate editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. He is slated to begin in July.

Romitti named chair

Paul Romitti, PhD, was the recipient of the 2025 University of Iowa Distinguished Chair in March. Romitti has been a faculty member in the College of Public Health since 2000, specializing in epidemiology-based research.

Saini named director

Ajay Saini, MBBS, MBA, was named medical director of quality for Penn State Health in February. Prior to the promotion, Saini served as medical director of inpatient services. In the new role, he will work to develop new quality and patient safety initiatives.

Sullivan named director

Nolan Sullivan, MPA, was named director of Sonoma County Department of Health Services in California in February. With over 20 years of experience in public health management, Sullivan will be responsible for overseeing the department’s staff and public health, homelessness and behavioral health services.

Thrasher awarded

Jim Thrasher, PhD, MA, MS, was the recipient of the Excellence in Scientific Leadership and Collaboration Award by the Mexican National Institute of Public Health in February. Thrasher, a professor at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, was honored for his work to improve tobacco policy and cessation over the past 25 years.

Tierney honored

William Tierney, MD, was named Distinguished Professor at Indiana University in March. Tierny is a professor at the Fairbanks School of Public Health in the Department of Community and Global Health. The honor recognized his contributions to patient care and health services.

Wojcik awarded

Monica Hsiung Wojcik, MD, MPH, FAAP, was the recipient of the 2025 Dr. Michael S. Watson Genetic and Genomic Medicine Innovation Award in March. Wojicik is a neonatologist and clinical geneticist at Boston Children’s Hospital. She was recognized by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics for her work to the improve health outcomes of infants with rare diseases.