Newsmakers

Arnice Cottom

Liller receives academic award

APHA member Karen Liller, PhD, in February was recognized by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health with the 2020 Academic Public Health Practice Excellence Award. Liller is a professor at the University of Florida College of Public Health and a researcher and specialist in injury prevention.

Lakshmanan appointed expert

APHA member Rekha Lakshmanan, MHA, director of advocacy and policy for the Immunization Partnership, was appointed as a contributing expert at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy-Center for Health and Biosciences in February.

Webb Hooper named deputy director

The National institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities in February selected Monica Webb Hooper, PhD, as its deputy director. Hooper is a professor of oncology, family medicine and community health, and psychological sciences at the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve.

Pender named president-elect

Members of the American Psychiatric Association in February chose Vivian Pender, MD, as the society’s next president-elect. Pender is a clinical professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, a training psychoanalyst at Columbia University, and a consultant psychiatrist and psychoanalyst to the United Nations.

Kerrigan named chair

The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health in February named Deanna Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, as chair of the Department of Prevention and Community Health. Kerrigan is an expert on HIV prevention and has led studies to develop comprehensive public health interventions for underserved women.

Nelson receives grant

The National Institute of Mental Health in February granted Kimberly Nelson, PhD, MPH, a $2.7 million grant for a study that includes a content analysis of state consent laws for minors seeking HIV and STI services in the U.S. Nelson is an assistant professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health.

Gopal named director

The National Cancer Institute in February named Satish Gopal, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Global Health. Gopal is a physician-scientist who has led the cancer program for University of North Carolina’s Project-Malawi, a research and care collaboration between the UNC-Chapel Hill and the Malawi Ministry of Health.