Newsmakers: August 2013

Precious Dorch-Robinson

El-Mohandes takes college public health position in New York

APHA Executive Board member Ayman El-Mohandes, MBBCH, MD, MPH, in May was named the new dean of the City University of New York’s School of Public Health. El-Mohandes was one of the founding faculty members of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Rimer receives American Cancer Society award

APHA member Barbara Rimer, DrPH, MPH, in May was awarded the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor in Atlanta at the Society’s 100th Birthday Summit. Rimer is dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Public Health. She was recognized for her leadership and initiatives in cancer research.

Holderby-Fox given Lemuel Shattuck Award

APHA member Lisa Renee Holderby-Fox, LSWA, in June received the Lemuel Shattuck Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association. Holderby-Fox, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers, received the award for her efforts to improve access to health care and reduce health disparities.

Mobley inducted into honorary society

APHA member James Mobley, MD, in May was inducted into the local chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at Texas A&M’s Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health.

Brown named director of emergency care office

Jeremy Brown, MD, in June was chosen to serve as the first permanent director of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Emergency Care Research. Brown will also represent NIH in government-wide efforts to improve the nation’s emergency care system. Brown is an associate professor of emergency medicine and chief of the clinical research section at the George Washington University’s Department of Emergency Medicine.

Davidson named new Dean of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, in June was appointed the fourth dean of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Davidson is the director of the Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care director at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. She is also the professor of cardiovascular nursing research at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

Elliott named RWJF director of policy outreach

Kimberly Elliott in June was appointed the director of policy outreach at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Elliott has served as the associate director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. She will work to reduce smoking and tobacco use and become involved in RWJF’s public policy initiatives.

Martin named new college of public health dean

William Martin II, MD, in June was appointed the new dean of Ohio State University’s College of Public Health. His appointment will be effective Aug. 19. Martin is the associate director for disease prevention and health promotion at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health.

Gephardt to chair health reform task force

Former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Gephardt in June was appointed to chair a new task force of America’s Agenda: Health Care for All. The task force will examine Affordable Care Act implementation issues that arise over the next several years and issues that may affect the strength of the employment-based health care plans.

White receives Florida public health award

Rhonda White, MBA, in April was named the 2013 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health by the University of South Florida. White is the director of the Office of Performance and Quality Improvement for the Florida Department of Health. She created the Florida Public Health and Medical Response System for weather and public health events, such as the H1N1 influenza outbreak.

Islam is first Nebraskan to receive new federal grant

Monirul Islam, MD, PhD, in May became the first Nebraskan to win a grant through the federal Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Islam is an assistant professor of epidemiology in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health and he will receive a $1.8 million three-year grant. Islam’s work will compare patient preferences with available drugs that offer the same survival rates but different side effects.

Dentzer named new RWJF senior health policy advisor

Susan Dentzer, in May was named the new senior health policy advisor for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She will develop new initiatives to promote public outreach through blogs, social media, webcasts and will also provide communication strategy assistance. Dentzer is the former editor of the journal Health Affairs and she served as a health policy analyst for “PBS NewsHour.”