Newsmakers: January 2015

Natalie McGill

Ellerbusch to represent APHA in engineering group’s board of trustees

APHA member Fred Ellerbusch, PhD, MPH, MS, in January began his term representing APHA as a member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Board of Trustees. Ellerbusch is an adjunct assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. He replaces APHA member Robert Williams, PE, on the board.

Horowitz receives honorary membership from dental organization

APHA member Alice Horowitz, PhD, MA in October received an honorary membership from the American Dental Association. Horowitz is a research associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health and the school’s Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy. She received the award for her work in oral health literacy.

Saitz named senior editor of addiction medicine journal

APHA member Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, in January began his new role as senior editor of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Saitz is chairman of the Boston University School of Public Health’s Community Health Sciences Department.

Barkoff named director of advocacy for mental health center

Alison Barkoff, JD, in September was named the director of advocacy for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Barkoff previously served as special counsel for the Civil Rights Division of Olmstead Enforcement and as a Bazelon Center staff attorney.

Harmatz joins health law program’s board of directors

Miriam Harmatz, JD, in October was named to the National Health Law Program’s Board of Directors. Harmatz is a senior health law attorney for Florida Legal Services Inc. and an adjunct professor at the Health Law Clinic of Florida International University’s College of Law.

Fitisemanu appointed to U.S. Census Bureau advisory committee

Jacob James Fitisemanu Jr., MPH, in October was one of 10 new members appointed to the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations. Fitisemanu is the chair of the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition and the outreach coordinator for the Utah Department of Health’s Office of Health Disparities.

Herrington named director at North Carolina school’s public health program

Jim Herrington, PhD, MPH, in December began his role as executive director of the Gillings Global Gateway and professor of the practice of health behavior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Herrington previously served as director of the National Institutes of Health’s Fogarty International Center’s Division of International Relations.

Network of public health institutes named national coordinating center

The Health Resources and Services Administration in October chose the National Network of Public Health Institutes to serve as a National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training. As a coordinating center, the national network will provide technical assistance to 10 regional public health training centers. Those regional centers are at Boston University, Columbia University, Emory University, Tulane University, University of Arizona, University of Colorado, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washington.

RWJF launches health data initiative

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in October began its Data for Health initiative. The initiative will explore how data, whether tracked through mobile apps or electronic health records, is used to help people be healthier. The initiative also includes an advisory committee co-chaired by APHA member David Ross, ScD, director of the Public Health Informatics Institute, and Ivor Horn, MD, MPH, medical director of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity. The committee plans to host its “Learning What Works” series in cities across the U.S. to gauge the health concerns of residents and the best ways to collect data.

Rosales receives Public Health Institute award

Cecilia Rosales, MD, in October received the Public Health Institute’s 2014 Public Health Change Champion award. Rosales, assistant dean of Phoenix programs at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, received the award for her work in improving health on the border of the U.S. and Mexico.