Newsmakers: February/March 2026

Sophia Meador

Arteaga Landaverde appointed deputy

Helen Arteaga Landaverde, PhD, MPH, was appointed New York City deputy mayor of health and human services in January. Arteaga Landaverde previously served as CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals-Elmhurst, a role she held since 2021.

Bertagnolli elected president

Monica Bertagnolli, MD, was named president-elect of the National Academy of Medicine in January. Bertagnolli previously served as director of the National Institutes of Health, a role she held for two years. She is slated to begin her new role in July.

Board members announced

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine announced new members of its board of directors in January. Among them were Qadira Ali, MD, MPH, a pediatrician at Children's National Hospital; Maria Fernanda Levis, MPH, MPA, founder and CEO of Impactivo Consulting; Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA, founder and managing principal of the Suk Group; and Christina Wells, MD, MPH, MBA, a physician at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System's Mile Square Health Center.

Bray appointed interim assistant dean

Bethany Bray, PhD, was appointed interim assistant dean for research at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in January. She currently serves at the university as a senior research scientist at the Institute for Health Research and Policy and as a research associate professor of community health sciences.

Gold honored for service

Nikki Gold was named the 2025 National Student Veteran of the Year by Student Veterans of America in January. Gold, an undergraduate at Oregon State University's College of Health, is slated to earn a bachelor's degree in public health in spring 2027.

Gupta awarded

Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, MSc was named the 2026 Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg Award recipient by the Rutgers School of Public Health in January. Gupta, a medical analyst for NBC News, was recognized for advancing public health communication.

Howard honored for equity work

George Howard, DrPH, was honored as the 2025-2026 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award recipient by the University of Alabama Birmingham Academic Health Center in January. The award recognized Howard's research on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health disparities.

Ichan School of Medicine recognized

The Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai became a member of the Women's Health Network at the Milken Institute in December. The institute recognized the school for efforts to advance women's health through research and compassionate care.

Landrigan honored

Phillip Landrigan, MD, was recognized with the 2025 Ramazzini Award by the Collegium Ramazzini in December. Landrigan is the director of the Global Public Health and the Common Good program at Boston College. He was honored for his career focus on environmental and occupational health and work to protect children from toxic exposures.

Leaders appointed to new initiative

California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed three people to lead the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange in December: Debra Houry, MD, MPH; Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH; and Susan Monarez, PhD. They will advise Newsom and the California Department of Public Health on advancing innovation, cross-state collaboration and the communication of critical health information.

Newmyer named director

Ashley Newmyer, MPH, was named director of the Division of Public Health for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in December. Newmyer previously served as the division's interim director since May.

Panel members announced

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management named 15 members to its new Cannabis Education Advisory Panel. Among them are Tazmara Anderson, MPH, CHES, a senior health educator at Urban Health Plan Inc.; Michael Mendoza, MD, MPH, MS, a physician at Highland Hospital in Rochester and chief operating officer of Trillium Health; and Logina Mostafa, MPH, a fellow at the Center for Psychedelic Public Health.

Shaefer named inaugural chief

Luke Shaefer, PhD, was named as the inaugural chief executive of health, human services and poverty solutions for the city of Detroit in January. Shaefer, the founder and director of the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions research initiative, will oversee the Detroit Health Department, the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion, and a new Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services.

Skeens named interim director

Heather Skeens, MBA, was named interim director of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health in North Carolina in December. Most recently, Skeens served as the assistant county manager for community support, a role she held since 2022.

Soliman named associate dean

Ghada Soliman, MD, PhD, was named associate dean for faculty affairs at the City University of New York School of Public Health in December. Soliman has served as a professor of nutrition in the Department of Environmental, Occupational and Geospatial Health Sciences at CUNY SPH since 2017.

Washington appointed commissioner

Daryl Washington, MSW, was appointed commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in January. Most recently, Washington served as executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board in Virigina.

Washington nominated as commissioner

Raynard Washington, PhD, MPH, was nominated as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health in January. Washington previously served as director of the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department in North Carolina, a role he held since 2021.