Newsmakers: March 2011

Anushka Chadha

Five APHA members advise national prevention council

Five APHA members were among those appointed by President Barack Obama in January to serve on an advisory group that will provide guidance to the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council. The five APHA members, appointed along with eight others to serve on the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health, are Jonathan Fielding, MD, MPH, MBA, MA, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; Jeffrey Levi, PhD, MA, executive director of Trust for America’s Health; Linda Rosenstock, MD, MPH, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles; John Seffrin, PhD, MS, CEO of the American Cancer Society; and Susan Swider, PhD, MS, a professor in the College of Nursing at Rush University Medical Center.

One Health Commission establishes new office

The One Health Commission, a globally focused organization dedicated to improving the health of people, animals, plants and the environment, in February announced it will establish its offices at Iowa State University Research Park. APHA is among the commission’s member organizations. For more information, visit www.onehealthcommission.org.

Schenck to lead North Carolina institute

APHA member Anna P. Schenck, PhD, MPH, on March 1 was slated to become director of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health and associate dean for the public health practice at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Schenck, who also leads the school’s Public Health Leadership Program, replaces Edward Baker Jr., MD, MPH.

Sumaya to study gulf oil spill

APHA member Ciro V. Sumaya, MD, MPH, in January was appointed to the Gulf of Mexico Initiative Research Board by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. A professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, Sumaya will investigate the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its effects on the environment, ecosystems and public health in the Gulf of Mexico.

Urbina to lead public health in Colorado

APHA member Chris Urbina, MD, in January was named executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Urbina is president of the APHA-affiliated Colorado Public Health Association and also serves as co-chair of the Colorado Public Health Improvement Plan Initiative.

Keehan takes heroes award

Sister Carol Keehan in January received the Health Care Heroes award at Families USA’s annual Health Action conference. Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, was recognized for her leadership and contributions to the expansion of national health care coverage for consumers.

Coleman named scientific director at NIH

William G. Coleman Jr., PhD, in January was named scientific director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Coleman previously served as a scientist in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Intramural Research Program.

Georgia medical college taps Hefner

David S. Hefner, MPA, in January was appointed executive vice president for clinical affairs at Georgia Health Sciences University. He previously served as senior advisor for health innovation at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Riley to chair disparities council

Wayne J. Riley, MD, MPH, MBA, MACP, in February was named chair of the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Riley is president and CEO of Meharry Medical College.

Clark receives outstanding reviewer award

Alice Clark, PhD, in December received the 2010 Marcy Speer Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health. Clark is vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs at the University of Mississippi.