Newsmakers: August 2026

Sonali Singh

Simonson named interim director

APHA member Karly Simonson, MBA, was named interim health director of the Central District Health Department in Nebraska in June. Simonson had served as the department's deputy director since 2023.

Davis named chair

Meghan Davis, DVM, PhD, MPH, was named chair of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School's Master of Public Health Program in May. Davis has served at the university for more than a decade.

Fabian awarded

Patricia Fabian, ScD, MS, received the Resilient Boston Award from the City of Boston in May. Fabian is a professor of environmental health at the Boston University School of Public Health. She was recognized for research and leadership that advanced climate resilience and public health policy in Boston schools and frontline communities.

Flores honored

Nina Flores, PhD, received the 2026 Margaret Becklake Award from the American Thoracic Society in May. Flores is a postdoctoral fellow in the Promoting Equity in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Guida named director

Jennifer Guida, PhD, MPH, was named director of HonorHealth Research Institute's Division of Institutional Research in June. Guida previously served as a program director and researcher at the National Cancer Institute. In her new role, she will oversee the institute's clinical trial efforts.

Guevin named director

Toby Guevin, MSW, was named public health director for Nevada County, California, in May. Guevin previously served as program manager for the county's Health and Wellness Division since 2022.

AMA board members announced

The American Medical Association on June 10 announced its 2026-27 Board of Trustees, which includes 21 members. Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, a urologic surgeon and the CEO of WILL U Enterprises, will serve as president. New board members include Tripti Kataria, MD, MPH, MBA, an anesthesiologist and manager at R1 RCM; Amar Kelkar, MD, MPH, FACP, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School; and Heather Smith, MD, MPH, an obstetrician-gynecologist and assistant professor at the Women and Infant Hospital.

Guillem named director

José Guillem, MD, MPH, MBA, was named medical director of research at Valley Hospital System in June. Guillem previously served as associate director of surgical research at the Penn State Cancer Institute and chief of colon and rectal surgery at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Lee awarded

Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, was named the 2026 Scientist of the Year by the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association and the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies in June. Lee, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, was recognized for advancing the role of statistics in biomedical science and expanding the visibility of Korean American scientists.

Long honored for public service

Ted Long, MD, MHS, received the 2026 Sloan Public Service Award from NYC Health + Hospitals and the Fund for the City of New York in May. Long is senior vice president and system chief medical officer for clinical services and population health at NYC Health + Hospitals. The award is considered among New York City's highest honors for career public service.

McKnight named director

Megan McKnight, MSW, was named director of health promotion and wellness for Pennsylvania State University Student Affairs in June. McKnight previously served at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she served as director of the Center for Wellbeing.

Shelke, Wagner awarded

Sarah Shelke and Kyra Wagner were named recipients of the Jed Foundation's 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Awards in June. Shelke, a recent high school graduate, and Wagner, a senior at Spelman College, were recognized for advocacy supporting youth mental health and suicide prevention.

Xing named director

Minzhi Xing, MD, MPH, was named director of interprofessional education and practice for the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health in June. Xing is an assistant professor in the school's Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice and an adjunct assistant professor of radiology at the university's School of Medicine.

Zafar honored

Nabeel Zafar, MD, MPH, received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentorship from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in May. Zafar is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery's Division of Surgical Oncology. He was recognized for mentoring medical student researchers.

Epkey named director

Amy Epkey was named acting director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in June. Previously, Epkey served as senior deputy director of the department's Financial Operations Administration.