Newsmakers: February/March 2025

Sophia Meador

Barry honored

APHA member Linda Barry, MD, MPH, FACS, was honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring by former President Joe Biden in January. Barry is an associate professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Over three decades, she has encouraged more than 300 students to pursue careers in science.

Benevides awarded

APHA member Teal Benevides, PhD, was awarded the Dale Richmond-Justin Coleman Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics in December. Benevides is an associate professor at Augusta University School of Public Health. She was recognized for contributions to the field of child development and behavior.

Gox, Warne appointed to board

APHA member Donald Warne, MD, MPH, and Brian Gott were appointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation board of directors in January. Warne is the co-director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Indigenous Health and a professor at the university’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Gott is the chief innovation officer for the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The new directors will serve five-year terms.

Jihong awarded

APHA member Jihong Liu, ScD, was awarded the 2024 National Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Award in November. Liu is professor at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health. She was recognized by the Coalition for Excellence in MCH Epidemiology, which includes 16 national health organizations.

New members announced

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of four new members to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health in January: APHA member Rebecca Reindel, MS, MPH, safety and health director at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations; John Stephen Frost, CSP, CSM, assistant program director at the University of South Florida’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Institute Education Center; Kirk Sander, MS, chief of safety and standards at the National Waste and Recycling Association; Sarah Williams Ischer, MS, CIH, CSP, senior program manager and environmental, health and safety manager at the National Safety Council. The new members began their two-year terms in January.

Academic health department announced

Michigan’s Washtenaw County Health Department and the University of Michigan School of Public Health announced the establishment of a formal academic health department partnership in November. They will work in coordination to implement innovative public health solutions through education, workforce development and community health services.

Cox named assistant commissioner

Brittany Cox, PhD, was named assistant commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health’s Division of Health Disparities Elimination in December. Cox has served for almost a decade at the department. In the new role, she will provide administrative, financial and operational leadership for division programs and staff.

Diane appointed director

Diane Creek, MS, was appointed director of Riley County Health Department in Kansas in December. Creek formerly served as health director for Toe River Health District in North Carolina. In the new role, she will oversee department programs and services, review agency activities and collaborate with community partners.

Fernandez, Gibson, named to task force

Alicia Fernandez, MD, and Ericka Gibson, MD, MPH, were named to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January. Fernandez is a professor at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, and Gibson is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Kaiser Permanente. The new members will serve four-year terms.

Fried honored

Linda Fried, MD, MPH, was honored with the Stephen Smith Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Public Health by the New York Academy of Medicine in December. Fried, dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, was recognized for her numerous achievements in research, advocacy and leadership.

Kum named fellow

Hye-Chung Kum, PhD, FAMIA, was selected to the Texas A&M Health Institute for Healthcare Access inaugural cohort of faculty fellows in December. Kum, a professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, will contribute to research and interdisciplinary collaborations to address barriers to timely, effective and affordable health care.

McBride awarded

Timothy McBride, PhD, was awarded the 2024 Rural Excellence in Advocacy Award by the Missouri Rural Health Association in November. McBride is professor at Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. He was recognized for outstanding contributions to health care in rural Missouri.

Odahowski named fellow

Cassie Odahowski, PhD, was selected to join the Rural Health Fellows Program by the National Rural Health Association in December. Odahowski is a research assistant professor at the University of South Carolina Rural and Minority Health Research Center. The yearlong fellowship is designed to develop and prepare leaders to advance the health of rural America.

Pachankis appointed professorship

John Pachankis, PhD, was appointed the David R. Kessler, MD, ’55 Professor of Public Health in December. The professorship will support Pachankis’ work at Yale University’s School of Public Health, where his work focuses on understanding and improving LGBTQ+ mental health outcomes.

Sambanis elected to board

Apostolis Sambanis, PhD, was elected to the Illinois Green Alliance Board of Directors in December. Sambanis is director of the Emergency Management and Resilience Planning Program at University of Illinois’ Chicago School of Public Health. In his new role, Sambanis will contribute to the organization’s strategic vision of making net zero buildings – which produce as much energy as they produce – more feasible and affordable in the state.

Showell awarded

Nakiya Showell, MD, MPH, MHS, was named the winner of the 2025 Levi Watkins Jr. Ideals Award in January. Showell is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine and medical director at Harriet Lane Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. She was recognized for addressing health inequities in marginalized and minoritized communities.

Stricker appointed director

Rebecca Stricker, RN, was appointed director of Malheur County Health Department in Oregon in December. Stricker was named interim health director of the department in June after serving there for over two decades. Her background includes work in tobacco prevention and public health preparedness.

Wilson named director

Sarah Wilson, MBA, was named director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in January. Wilson, who previously served as vice president of clinical and regulatory affairs for the Missouri Hospital Association, is slated to begin to the new role in February pending confirmation by the state Senate.

Zink named lecturer, fellow

Anne Zink, MD, was named lecturer and senior fellow at Yale School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management in December. Zink, former Alaska chief medical officer, is recognized for advocating for health improvements at local, tribal, territorial, state and national levels.