Newsmakers: May 2024

Sophia Meador

Livar named officer

APHA member Eugene Livar, MD, was named the nation’s first statewide chief heat officer by the Arizona Department of Health Services in March. Livar’s new position will focus on addressing extreme heat in the state.

Kwan Acre named board president

Artist and activist Ivy Kwan Acre was elected board president for the Treatment Action Group in February. She joined the group’s board in 2022 and previously served as treasurer.

NIMHD announcers new members

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities named new members to its advisory council in February: Samuel Adunyah, PhD, a professor in Meharry Medical College’s Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Jose Bauermeister, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry within the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, DrPH, MPH, director of the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy and a professor in the Department of Rural Health at Oklahoma State University; and Lisa Cacari Stone, PhD, director of the Transdisciplinary Research Equity and Engagement Center at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and a professor in the College of Population Health at the University of New Mexico.

McElroy named associate dean

Kathleen “Katie” McElroy, PhD, MS, CNE, was named associate dean for the baccalaureate program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in March. McElroy has served as interim associate dean since June 2023. Her work focuses on enhancing the experiences of bachelor-level students.

Osterholm receives service award

Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, was named the recipient of the American Medical Association Award for Outstanding Government Service in February. Osterholm is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He previously served on President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 transition advisory board and as science envoy for health security.

Kanter appointed ASTHO CEO

Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, was appointed CEO for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in March. Kanter previously served as Louisiana state health officer and municipal health director. His appointment was scheduled to begin April 8.

King appointed director

Alison King was appointed Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services director in February. King has served as acting director for the department since October 2023.

Griffith receives education award

Jennifer Griffith, DrPH, MPH, was honored with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s 2024 Riegelman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education in February. Griffith is an instructional professor at Texas A&M University School of Public Health. She was recognized for her work establishing the school’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program.

Upshaw named chair

Vaughan Upshaw, DrPH, EdD, MPH, was named chair of the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health in February. Prior to her appointment, Upshaw oversaw the Leadership in Practice concentration within the school’s Master of Public Health program.

Agonafer appointed deputy mayor

Estemaye Agonafer, MD, MPH, MS, was appointed the first deputy mayor of homelessness and community health of Los Angeles in February. Agonafer’s appointment will focus on improving access to services for people experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless. She has worked for the mayor’s office since May 2023.

Baroudi, Jones named health commissioners

Karim Baroudi, MPH, REHS, was named health commissioner, and Shannon Jones, MBA, MPH, was named deputy health commissioner of Ohio’s Toledo-Lucas County Health Department in February. Baroundi and Jones were slated to begin their appointments in April.

Rieske named director

Robert Rieske, PhD, was named director of the Psychology Clinic at Idaho State University in February. Rieske assumed the role of associate professor in 2016 and later served as interim director.

Childs named director

Richard Childs, MD, was named scientific director of the Division of Intramural Research at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in February. Childs previously served as clinical director and acting scientific director.

Gordon appointed chair

Joshua Gordon, MD, PhD, was appointed chair of psychiatry at Columbia University in February. Gordon had served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health for eight years before stepping down in June. His appointment at Colombia will begin in August 2024.

Simon appointed president

Bala Simon, MD, DrPH, associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will serve as president of the board of directors for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, the organization announced in January.

Mount Sinai creates Department of Public Health

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai announced the establishment of its new Department of Public Health in March. The department will work to modernize and advance innovations in public health response.