Newsmakers: April 2015

Ahluwalia named dean of Rutgers public health school

APHA member Jasjit Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, in April became the new dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. Ahluwalia previously served as professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and as chair of the National Advisory Council for Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health.

Hakim named to governing board for public health education council

APHA member Iman Hakim, MD, PhD, MPH, in January was appointed to the governing board of the Council on Education for Public Health. Hakim serves as the endowed chair in public health at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Jackson receives award from Indiana architecture school

APHA member Richard Jackson, MD, MPH, in March received the 2015 Henry Hope Reed Award from the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. Jackson is an environmental health sciences professor at the University of California-Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. He received the award for his work in promoting built environments that encourage health and well-being.

Smith named new dean of New Orleans public health school

APHA member Dean Smith, PhD, in June will become the new dean of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health. Smith previously served as professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy and as director of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Curtis appointed to new position at Texas public health school

Don Curtis, PhD, in March began his post as the new assistant department head of the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health’s Department of Public Health Studies. Curtis serves as assistant dean for High Impact Programs at the university’s College of Liberal Arts.

Dupuis named president-elect of genetic epidemiology society

Josée Dupuis, PhD, in January was named president-elect of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society. Dupuis serves as professor and associate chair of biostatistics at the Boston University School of Public Health. She is also a member of the faculty of Boston University’s interdisciplinary graduate program in bioinformatics.

Garner receives health care executive of year award

Mario Garner, EdD, FACHE, in March received the Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year. Garner is the president and CEO of New Orleans East Hospital. He received the award from the American College of Healthcare Executives, of which he is a fellow.

Grossman appointed to federal preventive task force

David Grossman, MD, MPH, in March began his term as vice chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Grossman, a pediatrician and professor of health services at the University of Washington, was a member of the task force from 2008 to 2013. He is also a member of the Community Preventive Services Task Force, the complementary public health task force.

Hasbrouck named executive director of NACCHO

Lamar Hasbrouck, MD, MPH, in February began his term as the new executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Hasbrouck previously served as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He is currently a clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

Weiss named director within NIDA division

Susan Weiss, PhD, in March was chosen to lead the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Division of Extramural Research. She previously served as the associate director for scientific affairs at NIDA and as acting director of NIDA’s Office of Science Policy and Communications. Tasks in her new role include creating goals for research programs and overseeing early career development and research training.

Editor’s note: This article was corrected post-publication.