Newsmakers: June 2026

Yanit Asamnew

Carney awarded

APHA member Jan Carney, MD, MPH, was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in April. Carney serves as associate dean for public health and health policy, director of graduate public health programs and professor of medicine at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.

Ivory-Green named director

APHA member Linda Ivory-Green, MS, was appointed director of the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services in New Jersey in April. Green previously served as the department's acting director and director of the Division Community Health and Wellness.

New ASPPH board members named

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health named new members to its board of directors in April: APHA member Edith Parker, DrPH, MPH, dean of the University of Iowa College of Public Health, will serve as chair; and APHA member Cynthia Harris, PhD, MA, associate dean for public health, director and professor at Florida A&M University's Institute of Public Health, will serve as chair-elect. The board's members at large are APHA member Bernadette Boden-Albala, DrPH, MPH, founding dean of the University of California-Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health; APHA member Shawn Gibbs, PhD, MBA, CIH, dean of the Texas A&M School of Public Health; and APHA member Nancy Messonnier, MD, dean of the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Williams awarded

APHA member Megan Williams, PhD, CHES, received the M. Elaine Auld Horizon Award from the Society for Public Health Education in April. Williams, an instructional assistant professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, was recognized for leadership, creativity and educational contributions.

Afulani recognized

Patience Afulani, PhD, MPH, was recognized as a distinguished alum at the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health Alumni Hall of Fame for 2025. Afulani, associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, was honored for her contributions to advancing person-centered and equitable maternal health research.

Bear named president and CEO

Allyson Bear, DrPH, MPH, was named president and CEO of Jhpiego in March. Bear previously served as founder and CEO of VennHealth. In her new role, she will lead the Johns Hopkins University-affiliated global health organization's mission of improving the health and lives of women and families.

Board members announced at CUNY

The City University of New York School of Public Health and Health Policy Foundation announced three appointments to its board of directors in March: Helen Arteaga, PhD, MPH, deputy mayor for health and human services for the City of New York; James Gohar, MD, CEO and founder of Viva Eve; and Katrina Mateo, PhD, MPH, MBA, associate director of data technology and innovation at Regeneron.

Darling named director

Sandra Darling, DO, MPH, was named program director of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement Prevention and Research Center at the Cleveland Clinic in April. Darling, a physician in the clinic, will lead the organization's vision and initiatives on Alzheimer's disease prevention during midlife.

Fankhauser named director

John Fankhauser, MD, MHA, was named director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency in California in April. He had served as interim director of the agency since January in addition to his role as CEO for the Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital.

Fried, Gabow awarded

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health awarded two public health practitioners its Welch-Rose Awards in March: Linda Fried, MD, MPH, former dean of the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, was recognized for distinction in public health; and Patricia Gabow, MD, MACP, former CEO of Denver Health and professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was recognized for excellence in academic public health service.

Hicks named CEO

LeRoi Hicks, MD, MPH, MACP, was named executive vice president and CEO of the American College of Physicians in March. Hicks serves as president of Christiana Care-Wilmington Hospital, where he has also served as campus executive director and chief medical officer.

Huet named dean

Yvette Huet, PhD, was named dean of the College of Health and Human Services at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in February. Huet, who has served the university since 2002, previously held the role at an interim level since 2020.

Judd named inaugural director

Suzanne Judd, PhD, MPH, was named inaugural director of the Center for Public Health at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine in April. Judd previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Nguyen named chief

An Nguyen, DDS, MPH, was named chief clinical officer of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health in April. She previously served as chief dental officer at Clinica Family Health and Wellness in Colorado.

Thadhani named fellow

Ravi Thadhani, MD, MPH, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in March. Thadhani is the executive vice president of clinical affairs and chief medical officer for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System.Top of Form