Newsmakers: November/December 2025

Sophia Meador

Barton named director

APHA member Leah Barton, MBA, MA, was named executive director of Harris County Public Health in Texas in September. She previously served as the department's interim executive director and deputy county administrator.

Immunization leaders honored

The Association of Immunization Managers recognized 46 public health leaders with 2025 Immunization Champion Awards in August. Among them were APHA member Sophia Newcomer, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences; Anne Conners, MPH, MA, director of the community health at Maine General Medical Center; Kathleen Cartmell, PhD, MPH, health services researcher at Clemson University; Kelly Kimple, MD, MPH, North Carolina's state health officer and public health director; Melaia Lawanivalu, MPH, RN, nurse supervisor at Ebeye Hospital in the Marshall Islands; and Sheyanga Beecher, MPH, CNP, MSN, medical director of the Hennepin Healthcare Mobile Health Program in Minnesota.

Katz named director

APHA member Ingrid Katz, MD, MHS, was appointed director of the Yale Institute for Global Health in September. In her new role, Katz will lead the expansion of global health activities, including research, clinical and educational programs, and preparedness work for future global health leaders.

Wilson awarded

APHA member Sacoby Wilson, PhD, MS, was named the winner of the Heinz Family Foundation's Heinz Award for the Environment in September. Wilson, a professor in the Department of Global, Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, was recognized for his contributions to advancing environmental health justice.

Chokshi appointed to board

Dave Chokshi, MD, MSc, was appointed to the KFF Board of Trustees in September. Choksi is a physician at Bellevue Hospital in New York and the Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership at the City College of New York. He formerly served as New York City health commissioner.

Creanga appointed chair

Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD, was appointed chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in September. Prior to her new role, Creanga served as professor and associate director of the International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is slated to begin in December.

Gill named president

Gideon Gil, MS, was named board president of the Association of Health Care Journalists in September. Gil, a managing editor at STAT, is slated to serve a two-year term as president.

Hartwig named director

R. Kim Hartwig, MD, was named director of strategic initiatives for Indian Health Service at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in September. Hartwig previously served as the medical director for Nimiipuu Health on the Nez Perce Reservation. In her new role, Hartwig will lead efforts to improve tribal health and clinical outcomes.

Hidalgo named president

Bertha Hidalgo, PhD, MPH, was named president of the American College of Epidemiology in September. Hidalgo is an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and associate dean for access and engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health.

Lenert named director

Lesile Lenert, MD, MS, was named director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Health Artificial Intelligence at Rutgers University in September. He will also serve as a professor in the Department of Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Massetti named chair

Greta Massetti, PhD, MA, was named chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at Georgia State University in August. Massetti previously served as principal deputy director for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Parekh named chief

Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, was named inaugural chief health policy officer at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health in September. Parekh's previous roles include chief medical advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center and deputy assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Parrish named director

Deidra Parrish, MD, MPHTM, was named public health director for Arlington County Department of Human Services in Virginia in September. Parrish previously served at the U.S. Agency for International Development as a senior advisor on the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Talbert named chair

Jeffery Talbert, PhD, was named inaugural chair for the Department of AI and Health at Augusta University in September. In his new role, Talbert will oversee educational and research initiatives, develop cross-disciplinary programs, enhance partnerships and lead efforts to secure funding.

VanPelt named director

Kim VanPelt, MPA, was named director of Snohomish County Health Department in Washington in September. Previously, VanPelt served as deputy director for programming and development at Pima County Health Department in Arizona.

Vasan named fellow

Ashwin Vasan, ScM, MD, PhD, was named senior fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Yale School of Public Health in September. Vasan previously served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for three years, leading initiatives to address COVID-19 and mpox in the city.