American Public Health Association Names Maryland Public Health Chief Georges Benjamin New Executive Director

The American Public Health Association yesterday announced that Dr. Georges Benjamin, the current Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene secretary, will become the association's new executive director in December, the Washington Post reports. He replaces Mohammed Akhter, who has headed the association since 1996 (Washington Post, 11/5). Benjamin has served as Maryland's public health chief for three years and previously was the department's deputy secretary for public health services for four years. He also served on the Task Force to Conquer Cancer in Maryland, the Governor's Task Force on Childproof Guns and the Task Force on Quality of Care in Nursing Facilities. "Dr. Benjamin comes to APHA with proven leadership abilities and a robust vision for public health," Faye Wong, president and chair of the association's search committee, said, adding, "His expertise, management skills and talent for bringing people with diverse viewpoints together will well serve both the association and the public health community" (American Public Health Association release, 11/6).