Newsmakers: January 2016

Natalie McGill

Alleyne named NACCHO’s senior advisor for public health programs

APHA member Oscar Alleyne, DrPH, MPH, in August was named the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ senior advisor for public health programs. He previously served as director of epidemiology and public health planning for the Rockland County Department of Health in Pomona, New York.

Browne named dean of Mississippi’s first school of public health

APHA member Dorothy Browne, DrPH, MPH, MSW, in August was named dean of Jackson State University’s School of Public Health, the state’s first school of public health. Browne previously served as an adjunct professor of maternal and child welfare at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and co-founded the Minority Health Project. She also served as a senior scientist for Morgan State University’s Prevention Sciences Research Center and director of the Public Health Institute at North Carolina A&T State University.

Jarris appointed to senior position at March of Dimes

APHA member Paul Jarris, MD, MBA, in January will begin his new position as deputy medical officer for the March of Dimes, as well as senior vice president for the organization’s Maternal and Child Health Program Impact. Jarris previously served as executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Quade recognized by Ohio General Assembly

APHA member Thomas Quade, MPH, MA, in December received an official commendation from the Ohio General Assembly’s House of Representatives for being elected APHA’s next president at the Association’s 143^rd Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago. In Ohio, Quade is the health commissioner of Marion County and he previously served as an administrator for the Akron Health Department. Quade is serving as president-elect and will assume the presidency in November 2016.

Blum named medical director for Chicago clinic

Cori Blum, MD, AAHIVS, in October was named site medical director for Howard Brown Health Center’s Sheridan Road Clinic in Chicago. Blum previously served as the HIV and sexually transmitted infection medical director for the Chicago Department of Public Health. She also teaches at the Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center and at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Family Medicine.

Bookbinder receives New Jersey Public Health Association award

Sylvia Bookbinder, MPH, in October received the New Jersey Public Health Association’s Dennis J. Sullivan Award for her commitment to improving public health for New Jersey residents. Bookbinder retired from the New Jersey Department of Health and was a nationally certified health education specialist and licensed state health officer.

Moreland-Russell named new APHA government fellow

APHA member Sarah Moreland-Russell, PhD, MPH, in September began as a participant in APHA’s new Public Health Fellowship in Government. Moreland-Russell is an assistant research professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Her fellowship, which is in the office of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., ends in August 2016.

Obey named deputy executive director for Families USA

Craig Obey, JD, in September was named deputy executive director of Families USA. Obey, who began his new post in November, previously served as senior vice president for the National Parks Conservation Association.

Okonjo-Iweala named chair-elect of global vaccination group

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in September was named chair-elect for the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Okonjo-Iweala is a former finance minister of Nigeria, chair of African Risk Capacity and a board member of the Rockefeller Foundation.

US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps receives presidential citation

The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in September received the Presidential Unit Citation from President Barack Obama. Obama recognized the corps for its public health duties related to fighting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.