Newsmakers: January 2011

Degutis to direct injury prevention at CDC

APHA member and past president Linda C. Degutis, DrPH, MSN, in November was named director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. In her new role, Degutis will work to fulfill the agency’s mission of preventing injuries and violence and reducing their consequences.

Holderby appointed to national health commission

APHA member Lisa Renee Holderby, LSWA, director of health equity at Community Catalyst in Boston, in September was appointed to the National Health Care Workforce Commission. Created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the new commission will advise policy-makers on ways to improve the health care work force.

CDC Foundation Hero award goes to Jacobson

APHA member Michael F. Jacobson, PhD, in October received the CDC Foundation Hero Award for his role in improving public health by championing science-based nutrition and food safety initiatives. Jacobson is co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Knollmueller receives nursing award

APHA member Ruth Nelson Knollmueller, PhD, RN, a member of APHA’s Public Health Nursing Section, received the Pearl McIver Award for her contribution to public health nursing. The award was presented at the American Nurses Association House of Delegates meeting in June.

National Medical Fellowships lauds Murray

APHA President Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, in November received a 2010 Chicago Champions of Health Award from National Medical Fellowships. Based in New York City, the organization works to improving the health of low-income and minority communities by increasing the representation of minority physicians, educators, researchers, policy-makers and health care administrators.

Utley-Smith awarded HRSA grant

APHA member Queen Utley-Smith, ED, RN, associate professor and chair of the master of science in nursing degree program at Duke University, in October was awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Advanced Nursing Education Expansion program. The grant will be used to fund a five-year project aimed at advancing the number of primary care clinicians through nurse practitioner education.

Kellermann assumes new role at Rand

Arthur Kellermann, MD, MPH, in November was named director and vice president of the health research division at the Rand Corporation. Kellermann joined Rand last year after being appointed to the Paul O’Neill Alcoa Professorship in Policy Analysis. Previously he served as a professor of emergency medicine at Emory University and as the medical school’s first associate dean for health policy.

Schneider to lead emergency physicians

Sandra M. Schneider, MD, FACEP, in November assumed the presidency of the American College of Emergency Physicians. A professor and chair emeritus of the department of emergency medicine at the University of Rochester, she is an attending physician at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.