Newsmakers: February 2012

Teddi Dineley Johnson

Bonta to lead California Wellness Foundation

APHA member Diana Bonta, DrPH, MPH, RN, in January was named president and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation. A former APHA Executive Board chair, Bonta previously served as vice president of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California region.

Riegelmans establish award

APHA member Richard Riegelman, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and founding dean of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, and his wife, Linda Riegelman, have established the Riegelman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education in Public Health. The first such award, which recognizes excellence in the design and teaching of public health degree programs for undergraduate students, is expected to be presented at the Summit on Undergraduate Education in Public Health in late October.

Rimer to chair president’s cancer panel

APHA member Barbara Rimer, DrPH, MPH, in November was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as chair of the President’s Cancer Panel. Established in 1971 as part of the National Cancer Act, the three-member panel monitors the development and execution of the activities of the National Cancer Program. Rimer is dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Fingerlin to lead epidemiology program in Colorado

Tasha Fingerlin, PhD, MS, in January assumed the role of epidemiology program director in the Colorado School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology. An associate professor of epidemiology at the school, Fingerlin will oversee the department’s master of science and doctoral programs.

Mahon takes reins of HIV/AIDS advisory council

Nancy Mahon, JD, in December was appointed chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Mahon serves as executive director of the Mac AIDS Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

National Priorities Partnership names new members

The National Quality Forum in December added several organizations to its National Priorities Partnership. The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, as well as Independence Blue Cross of Pennsylvania, were named voting members of the partnership. Federal agencies appointed as ex-officio, nonvoting members include the Office of Minority Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Research!America honors health advocates

Research!America in October announced the names of five 2012 Advocacy Award winners. The winners, who are set to be honored at a March ceremony in Washington, D.C., are Margaret Foci, MD, PhD, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research; Sanjay Gupta, MD, chief medical correspondent for CNN; Scott Johnson, president and founder of Myelin Repair Foundation; Donald Lindberg, MD, director of the National Library of Medicine; and the Food Allergy Initiative.

University of California launches online MPH program

The University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health in December announced the launch of an online master of public health degree program. Enrolled students can earn a master of public health degree by completing 85 percent of their coursework online and attending three on-campus sessions totaling 15 days over the first two years.