Newsmakers: April 2012

Teddi Dineley Johnson

Abrams, Gielen, honored by American Academy of Health Behavior

APHA member David Abrams, PhD, was accepted as a fellow by the American Academy of Health Behavior. Abrams is a professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Medical Center’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Also, APHA member Andrea Gielen, ScD, ScM, in March received an American Academy of Health Behavior award for her contributions to the field of health behavior research. Gielen, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, was named as the academy’s 2012 Research Laureate.

Eng lauded by Asian community alliance

APHA member Howard Eng, DrPH, MS, in February was named Pan Asian Man of the Year by the Pan Asian Community Alliance. Eng is an assistant professor of public health and pharmacy practice at the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and director of the Southwest Border Rural Health Research Center. The alliance promotes and develops education and community services for Asian and Pacific Islanders.

Wong honored for career achievements

Former APHA President Faye Wong, MPH, in February received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2011 HHS Department Award for Career Achievement. Wong serves as branch chief for program services in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Wong has served as the program’s branch chief since 2007.

Chan nominated to serve second term at WHO

Margaret Chan, MD, MPH, in January was nominated by the World Health Organization’s executive board to serve a second term as the organization’s director-general. Chan’s nomination will be submitted for approval to the 65th World Health Assembly, which is scheduled to meet May 21–26 in Geneva. If confirmed, Chan’s new term will begin July 1 and continue until June 30, 2017.

Choi named chief of staff at Office for Civil Rights

Juliet Choi, JD, in February was named chief of staff and senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. Prior to the appointment, Choi served as senior director for disaster partnerships at the American Red Cross.

Families USA honors health advocates

Families USA in January honored three health advocates who have helped improve service to health care consumers. Recognized as Consumer Health Care Advocates of the Year were Rachel DeGolia, executive director at Universal Health Care Action Network; Moriba Karamoko, director of the Louisiana Consumer Healthcare Coalition; and Adam Searing, a project director for Health Access Coalition at the North Carolina Justice Center.

Rutala lauded for infection prevention work

William Rutala, PhD, MPH, MS, in February received the Elaine Larson Lectureship Award from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. The award honors excellence in presenting a lecture on the state of the science of infection prevention or health care epidemiology. Rutala is a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and also serves as director of the Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health and Safety Program within the University of North Carolina Health Care System.

Wilson named deputy director at NIMHD

M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS, in January was appointed deputy director for strategic scientific planning and program coordination at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Most recently, Wilson served as chair of the board of trustees at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles.