Newsmakers: November/December 2015

Natalie McGill

Beresford named new member of Washington state science organization

APHA member Shirley Anne Alexander Beresford, PhD, MSc, MA, in September was named one of 24 new members of the Washington State Academy of Sciences. She is a senior associate dean and a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

Kurz named dean emeritus at Texas health science school

APHA member Richard Kurz, PhD, in September was named dean emeritus by the University of North Texas System Board of Regents at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Kurz, who will continue working as an adjunct faculty member, served as dean of the university’s School of Public Health.

Troutman president receives award from New York college

Former APHA President Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, CPH, in September received the Adewale Troutman Social Justice Award from the City University of New York’s Institute for Health Equity and the university’s School of Public Health. The annual award, named for Troutman, will be given to students who are active in social justice and health equity issues.

Barnes named chief program officer at NACCHO

William Barnes, PhD, MBA, in August was named the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ new chief program officer. Barnes previously served as a professor of pediatrics at George Washington University and is a clinical psychologist for the Children’s National Health System.

Chern receives health care philanthropy award

Mary Anne Chern, FAHP, ACFRE, in October received the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Harold J. Seymour Award. Chern is president of the White Memorial Medical Center Charitable Foundation in Los Angeles. She also previously served as a past board chair of the association.

Connecticut school creates climate change program coursework

The Yale School of Public Health announced in September that its Climate Change and Health @ Yale program will start in fall 2016. Among its offerings are a climate change leader in residence and leadership training workshops in addition to new offerings in undergraduate and graduate coursework. Overlook International Foundation is funding the program with a $1.3 million grant. For more information, visit http://publichealth.yale.edu.

Family physician organization recognizes medical schools

The American Academy of Family Physicians in July recognized 10 schools as overall 2015 Program of Excellence award winners for creating exceptional family medicine interest groups. The following schools received recognition: F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at Uniformed Services University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Meharry Medical College, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, University of Iowa’s Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Hulsey named West Virginia school’s epidemiology department chair

Thomas Hulsey, PhD, MPH, in July was named chair of the West Virginia University School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology. Hulsey is a professor in the department as well as one in the Department of Pediatrics at the university’s School of Medicine.

Merrell receives rural health leader award

Melinda Merrell, MPH, in September received the 2015 National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Emerging Leader Award. Merrell is a senior program director for the South Carolina Office of Rural Health and is a doctoral student in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management within the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health.