Newsmakers: September 2024

Sophia Meador

Taneja named director

APHA member Veerinder “Vinny” Taneja, MPH, was named public health director of the City of El Paso, Texas, in June. Taneja, former health director for Tarrant County Public Health, was slated to begin the new role in August.

Vann named director

APHA member I-ulia Vann, MD, MPH, was announced as director of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County Health Department in June. Vann previously served as health director in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Wang appointed to council

APHA member Jing Wang, PhD, MPH, FAAN, was appointed to the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research at the National Institute of Health in June. Wang is the dean of the College of Nursing at Florida State University.

Archer receives leadership award

Rex Archer, MD, MPH, received the F. Douglas Scutchfield Leadership Award from the Public Health Accreditation Board in June. Archer, a professor and director of population and public health at Kansas City University, served as Kansas City’s health director for 23 years.

Baladandayuthapani appointed chair

Veera Baladandayuthapani, PhD, was appointed to chair of the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in June. Baladandayuthapani has served as a professor of biostatistics since 2018. He took on the new role in July.

Bisesi receives award

Michael Bisesi, PhD, received the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award in June. Bisesi, a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, serves as the vice dean for academic affairs and academic administration at Ohio State University College of Public Health. He is also the interim chair of the college’s Division of Environmental Health.

Broussard named dean

Lisa Broussard, MSN, DNP, was named as the dean of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Nursing and Health Sciences in July. Broussard, the Acadian Ambulance endowed professor in nursing, has served as interim dean since 2022 and has been with the university since 1992.

Denering named director

Loretta Denering, MS, DrPH, was named behavioral health director for California’s Ventura County in June. Previously, Denering held positions as the assistant behavioral health director and the substance use services division chief for the county. She took on the new role in June.

Scholarship established in Dick’s honor

Kevin Dick was honored by the University of Nevada School of Public Health with the establishment of the Kevin Dick Public Health Scholarship in June. As a retired district health officer for Northern Nevada Public Health, Dick was recognized for his leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic. The new scholarship will support first-generation students pursuing public health.

Frenk named chancellor

Julio Frenk, MS, was named as the next chancellor of the University of California-Los Angeles in June. Frenk, a global health expert and former president of the University of Miami, is the first Latino chancellor of UCLA. He is slated to begin in January of next year.

Garcia appointed deputy commissioner, chief

Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA, was appointed to deputy commissioner and chief program officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in June. Garcia is an admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service and previously served as U.S. assistant secretary for health. He took on the new role in June.

Kahn named dean

Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH, was named senior associate dean for clinical and translational research and director of the Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in July. Khan serves as co-director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training and professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati. She is slated to begin in October.

Kelminson named director

Karen Kelminson, MD, MPH, was named clinical medical director of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado in June. Kelminson, a long-time member of the Sie Center team, will work to improve center programming. She took on the new role in July.

Kilkenny appointed president

Michael Kilkenny, MD, was named president of the Board of Directors for the National Association of County and City Health Officials in July. Kilkenny, CEO and health officer for Cabell-Huntington Health Department in West Virginia, has been involved in community health interventions addressing opioid-related issues, tobacco use and the COVID-19 response. His one-year term began in July.

Kodjo named director

Cheryl Kodjo, MD, MPH, was named vice provost and director of University Health Services at the University of Rochester in June. Kodjo serves as professor of pediatrics and associate dean of student advising in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. She took on the new role in July.

Liao appointed to commission

Joshua Liao, MD, was appointed to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in June. Liao, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas, will work alongside the commission member to provide guidance for federal health care programs. He is slated to serve in the role through April 2027.

Perez receives education award

Iris Perez, MD, was awarded the Excellence in Education Award from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in June. Perez is the director of the Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome and Diaphragm Pacing Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Reuland appointed distinguished professor

Dan Reuland, MD, MPH, was awarded the Robert A. Ingram Distinguished Professorship in June. Reuland is the founder and co-director of the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative. The professorship will support Reuland’s cancer research.

Wachtel appointed chief

Brian Wachtel, MBA, was appointed chief development officer by the National Foundation for Cancer Research in July. Wachtel has been with the foundation since 2016 and was named executive director in 2019.

White House announces council members

The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council appointed new members in June. The 12 new members are Tye Baker, senior director of the environmental protection service for the Choctaw Nation; Anita Cunningham, former director of the North Carolina Disaster Response and Resilience Network and the North Carolina Climate Solutions Coalition; Lloyd Dean, chief executive emeritus of CommonSpirit Health; Carlos Evans, JD, director of the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability for the City of Dallas; Susan Hendershot, MDiv, president of Interfaith Power & Light; Harleen Marwah, MD, MS, editorial fellow at the New England Journal of Medicine; Igalious Mills, executive director of the International Farmers and Ranchers; Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enweremis, MD, PhD, MPP, emergency medicine resident physician; Joanne Pérodin, MPH, senior director of climate equity at the Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities Institute, Michael Walton, general manager of Energy Transition Finance LLC; Donele Wilkins, president and CEO of the Green Door Initiative; and Tanner Yess, MCP, co-executive director of Groundwork Ohio River Valley.

Weinstein elected member

Ali Weinstein, PhD, was elected member-at-large for the Society for Health Psychology in June. Weinstein is a professor of global and community health in the College of Public Health at George Mason University. She was slated to begin her three-year term in August.