Newsmakers

Natalie McGill

Amaro named to Research!America board of directors

APHA member Hortensia Amaro, PhD, in March was one of four people elected to Research!America’s Board of Directors. Amaro is the dean’s professor of social work and preventive medicine at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. She is also the university’s associate vice provost of Community Research Initiatives.

Levin named national director of public health law group

APHA member Donna Levin, JD, in April was named national director of the Network for Public Health Law. The organization is a resource to policymakers, public health practitioners, attorneys and others who need help navigating legal issues surrounding public health. Levin previously served as general counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Birx named US global AIDS coordinator

Deborah Birx, MD, in April was named the new ambassador at large and U.S. global AIDS coordinator for international HIV/AIDS efforts headed by the federal government, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Birx was previously director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS in CDC’s Center for Global Health.

Brilliant receives medal from California university

Larry Brilliant, MD, MPH, in March received the University of California-Los Angeles Medal for his work in improving worldwide health. He was recognized for a lifetime of achievements, such as being part of a World Health Organization team that helped eliminate smallpox worldwide in 1980. Brilliant is currently the president and CEO of the Skoll Global Threats Fund, an organization working on initiatives to mitigate public health threats, such as climate change, conflict and pandemics.

Dash, Serafini, named vice presidents for policy

Sarah Dash, MPH, and Marilyn Werber Serafini, MA, in April were both named vice presidents for policy at Alliance for Health Reform. Dash is formerly of Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute. Serafini previously served as Alliance for Health Reform’s director of communications and health policy advisor.

Gupta named deputy CEO of international organization

Anuradha Gupta, MBA, in June began her role as the Gavi Alliance’s new deputy CEO. Gupta previously served as additional secretary and mission director for the National Health Mission under the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Gupta also served as co-chair of the Partnership for Maternal Neonatal and Child Health.

Henderson receives women’s leadership award

Marsha Henderson, MRCP, in April received the Dr. Estelle Ramey Award for Women’s Health Leadership from the Society for Women’s Health Research. Henderson is assistant commissioner for women’s health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration where she works on FDA research and policy that affect women’s health.

McBride named new behavioral sciences and health education chair

Colleen McBride, PhD, in July began her new role as professor and chair in the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education. McBride previously served as founding chief and senior investigator of the Social and Behavioral Research Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Passett receives life membership award

Barry Passett in May received the American Hospital Association’s Honorary Life Membership Award at the association’s annual membership meeting in Washington, D.C. Passett was recognized for his contributions, such as helping develop the association’s Equity of Care Committee strategy and the National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparities.

Purucker receives early career award from U.S. government

Steven Thomas Purucker, PhD, in April received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Purucker, a research ecologist at the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Exposure Research Laboratory, received the award for his work in updating mathematical models to assess the risk for environmental exposures.

Weil becomes journal’s new editor in chief

Alan Weil, JD, MPP, in June began his role as editor in chief of the journal Health Affairs. Weil was previously the executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy.