Newsmakers: August 2025

Sophia Meador

Joshi named chief officer

APHA member Kiran Joshi, MD, MPH, was named CEO of Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois in May. Prior to his appointment, Joshi served for more than a decade as the department’s senior medical officer.

McCay named assistant dean

APHA member Michele McCay, DrPH, MPH, was named interim assistant dean for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in June. McCay, who has been recognized for her excellence in teaching, is a leader on maternal and child health.

Taylor appointed commissioner

APHA member Michelle Taylor, MD, DrPH, MPA, was named commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department in May. Taylor previously served as division director of health services for Shelby County in Tennessee. She is slated to begin in August.

Worsham appointed secretary

APHA member Dennis Worsham was appointed secretary of the Washington State Department of Health in June. Worsham most recently serving as the first director of public health for the state’s Snohomish County Health Department.

Cerqueira named chief officer

Julie Cerqueira, MA, was named chief program officer for the Natural Resources Defense Council in May. Cerqueira served in the Biden administration as principal deputy assistant secretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Fellows announced

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selected eight health professionals for the Health Policy Fellows program at the National Academy of Medicine in June. Among them were Nathalia Jimenez, MD, MPH, anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s and Unini Odama, MD, MPH, MBE, vice president for medical affairs for DaVita Kidney Care.

Gordon honored

Adam Gordon, MD, MPH, FACP, was honored with the 2024 Daniel Deykin Award for Outstanding Mentor by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research program in June. Gordon, chief of addiction medicine at the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was recognized for his dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers.

Greenblatt named director

Lawrence Greenblatt, MD, was named state health director and chief medical officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in May. Greenblatt’s experience includes leading Medicaid policy initiatives for the state.

McFadden named director

Courtney McFadden, MPH, was named director of the Division of Public Health for Guilford County in North Carolina in June. McFadden most recently served as deputy director of the Maryland Department of Health Prevention and Health Promotion Administration.

Kerrigan named vice dean

Deanna Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, was named vice dean of Rutgers School of Public Health in May. Most recently, Kerrigan served as professor and chair of the Department of Prevention and Community Health at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is slated to begin the new role Nov. 1.

Kulasingam named director

Shalini Kulasingam, PhD, MPH, was named founding director of the new Center for Cancer Prevention and Control at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in May. Kulasingam previously served as professor for the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota.

Lisabeth named interim dean

Lynda Lizabeth, MPH, PhD, was named interim dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health in June. Lisabeth, a professor of epidemiology, previously served as senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the school.

Mukkamala inaugurated

Bobby Mukkamala, MD, was inaugurated as the new president of the American Medical Association in June. Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist out of Flint, Michigan, will serve a one-year term.

Porter appointed commissioner

Amy Porter was appointed interim commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy in June. Porter will serve a dual appointment, continuing her role as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability.

Samet honored

Johnathon Samet, MD, MS, was honored with the Frank A. Calderone Prize in Public Health by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in May. Samet, a pulmonary physician and epidemiologist, was recognized for his research on inhaled pollutants.

Stringer honored

Jeffery Stringer, MD, was honored with the 2025 Oliver Max Gardner Award by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in June. Stringer, who serves at university’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, was awarded the university’s highest faculty honor for his work on maternal health care in low-income nations.

Sutcliffe appointed commissioner

Jennie Sutcliffe, MSc, was appointed commissioner of Tompkins County Whole Health in upstate New York in June. Sutcliffe will oversee public health and mental health services for the county in her new role.

Warren named chief officer

Micheal Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP, was named chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes in June. Previously, Warren served as associate administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration.