Newsmakers: October 2024

Sophia Meador

Ferdinand named advisor

APHA member Alva Ferdinand, DrPH, JD, was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Beccera in July. Ferdinand, who leads the Department of Health Policy and Management at Texas A&M School of Public Health, will serve a four-year term on the committee.

Hawley receives global health award

APHA member Nicola Hawley, PhD, was awarded the 2024 Hecht Global Health Faculty Network Award by the Yale Institute for Global Health in July. Hawley, an associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, was honored for her efforts to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents in American Samoa.

Caine becomes president

APHA member Virginia Caine, MD, was inducted as the 125th president of the National Medical Association in August. Caine, a former APHA president, is director and chief medical officer of Marion County Public Health. Her presidency will focus on improving health outcomes for Black patients.

Holland named director

APHA member April Holland, MPH, was appointed as director of the Benton County Health Department in July. Holland, who joined Benton County in 2020 as deputy director of public health, had been serving as interim health department director since March 2023.

Sentell appointed chair

APHA member Tetine Sentell, PhD, MA, was appointed the inaugural Chin Sik and Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair in Public Health Studies in July. Sentell, a professor of public health studies at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa, has spent over 25 years working to address and improve health inequities.

Adeline-Biggs appointed director

Naomi Adeline-Biggs, MPH, was appointed public health director of the Oregon Health Authority in July. Before joining the authority, Adeline-Biggs served as the public health administrator for Polk County and board chair for the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials. She assumed the role in August.

Althoff named chief

Amy Althoff, MD, was named academic chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Drexel University in July. Althoff serves as an associate professor of medicine and medical director of the Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice.

Chaplin named president-elect

Damōn Chaplin, MBA, was named president-elect of the National Association of County and City Health Officials Board of Directors in July. Chaplin is the commissioner for the City of Minneapolis Department of Health. After concluding a one-year term as president-elect, he will become NACCHO Board President in July 2025.

Chicas named fellow

Roxana Chicas, PhD, RN, FAAN, was named the 2024-2026 American Academy of Nursing Fellow by the National Academy of Medicine in August. Chias is an assistant professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson School of Nursing. During her fellowship, she will focus on evidence-based public health research to enhance patient care and access to care.

Columbus Public Health, Engel awarded

Columbus Public Health and Kim Engel, MBA, were named dual recipients of the National Champion of Local Governmental Public Health Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials in July. NACCHO recognized their dedication to building healthier and more equitable communities.

Davis named director

Jacqueline Davis, MHA, FACHE, was named health director of Delta County, Colorado, by the Delta County Board of Health in July. Davis previously served as director of marketing, communications and public relations at Delta Health. She assumed the role in August.

Hugh earns service award

Hugh Tilson, MD, DrPH, FACPM, received the Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials in July. Before retiring, Tilson held several prominent roles, including North Carolina state health officer and NACCHO president. He was honored for his leadership and enduring commitment to public health.

Hutter appointed director

Carolyn Hutter, PhD, MS, was appointed the director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Strategic Coordination in August. Previously, Hutter was the director of the Division of Genome Sciences at the National Human Genome Research Institute. In her new role, she will manage and oversee activities funded by the NIH Common Fund.

Loyd appointed director

Stephan Loyd, MD, was appointed to director of the West Virgina Office of Drug Control Policy by Gov. Jim Justice in July. Previously, Loyd served as the chief medical officer at Cedar Recovery in Mount Juliet. He assumed the role in August.

Ofori-Acquah appointed lead

Solomon Ofori-Acquah, PhD, was appointed to lead Georgia’s Solve Sickle Cell Initiative in August. Ofori-Acquah previously served as the director of medical centers.

Reilly earns teaching award

Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH, received the University of South Carolina Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching in July. Reilly, a professor of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has been with the university since 2007.

Group elects board members

The Treatment Action Group elected new members to its board of directors in May; Julian Chuna, JD, general counsel at Enveritas; Karl Schmidt, HIV advocate and television personality; and Tanya Walker, co-founder of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group. The board will strengthen the organization’s mission to end HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C.

Tian elected fellow

Lili Tian, PhD, MA, was elected as fellow of the American Statistical Association in July. Tian is the director of graduate studies, associate chair and professor at the University of Buffalo Department of Biostatistics. She was elected to the fellowship for her contributions and leadership in statistical methodology.