Newsmakers: May/June 2014

Kim Krisberg

Bernhardt named first director of Center for Health Communication

APHA member Jay Bernhardt, PhD, MPH, in March was named founding director of the new Center for Health Communication within the University of Texas-Austin Moody College of Communication. Bernhardt will also serve as a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Department of Advertising and Public Relations as well as the Everett D. Collier centennial chair in communication. Bernhardt is the former director of the National Center for Health Marketing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dietz to lead center for prevention, wellness

APHA member William Dietz, MD, PhD, in March was named the new director of the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dietz has previously served as director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the Redstone center, Dietz will oversee the development of creative initiatives aimed at preventing obesity and chronic disease.

Goldberg appointed to health policy academy

APHA member Bruce Goldberg, MD, in March, was among 12 new members appointed to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Goldberg is the former director of the Oregon Health Authority and is currently acting director of Cover Oregon, the state’s health insurance marketplace.

Heaphy honored for disability rights advocacy

APHA member Dennis Heaphy, MPH, MEd, MDiv, in February received the Association for Community Affiliated Plans’ Leadership in Advocacy Award. Heaphy, a health care analyst for the Disability Policy Consortium in Massachusetts and co-chair of Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights, was honored for his efforts to ensure consumer protections for people with disabilities during implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Binder to lead psychiatric association

In March, the American Psychiatric Association announced Renée Binder, MD, as its new president-elect. Binder is the associate dean for academic affairs at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine.

Brooks to head Office of National AIDS Policy

President Barack Obama in March named Douglas Brooks, MSW, as director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. Brooks most recently served as senior vice president for community, health and public policy at the Justice Resource Institute. In his new position, Brooks will help lead efforts to reduce HIV infections, improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, and eliminate HIV-related health disparities.

Gionfriddo takes reins at Mental Health America

Paul Gionfriddo in March was named the new president and CEO of Mental Health America. Throughout his career, Gionfriddo has held a number of advocacy and health positions, including 11 years in the Connecticut state legislature and a four-year term on the National Advisory Council to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Joint Commission welcomes four new members

The Joint Commission in February appointed four new members to its Board of Commissioners: Grant Davies, MA; Jane Englebright, PhD, RN; Gregg Meyer, MD, MSc; and Aurie Hollingsworth Miller, MA. Davies is CEO of Sutter Health’s North Bay Hospitals and executive vice president of California Pacific Medical Center; Englebright is chief nursing officer, patient safety officer and vice president for the Clinical Services Group at Hospital Corporation of America; Meyer is chief clinical officer at Partners Healthcare System; and Miller is director of the City of Seattle Office for Education.

Lavizzo-Mourey named to Smithsonian board

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was appointed to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents in February. The board, which includes nine citizen members, is the governing body of the Smithsonian Institution.

LeFevre, Bibbins-Domingo to lead preventive task force

In March, Michael LeFevre, MD, MSPH, was appointed as chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, MD, PhD, was appointed co-vice chair. A practicing physician, LeFevre is vice chair and director of clinical activities for the University of Missouri School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. Bibbins-Domingo is the endowed chair of medicine and professor of medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California-San Francisco.

Lillibridge appointed to IOM health committee

Scott Lillibridge, MD, assistant dean and professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, was appointed to the Institute of Medicine’s Standing Committee on Health Threats Resilience in January. The committee, which provides recommendations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs, addresses topics such as health security, emergency response and catastrophic health events.

Maddox to lead minority health, disparities work

Yvonne Maddox, PhD, in March was appointed acting director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Before the appointment, Maddox served as deputy director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Maddox also co-chaired the first National Institutes of Health strategic plan on eliminating health disparities.

Rodiles named to border health commission

Horacio Rodiles, MD, in March was appointed a member of the U.S. section of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission. Rodiles is a physician at the Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in California.

Texas public health school changes its name

The Texas A&M Health Science Center in April announced it has changed the name of its School of Rural Public Health to the School of Public Health. The name change reflects the school’s work regarding state and national public health issues, but the school will continue to have a rural public health focus.