Title: A Family Physician With Global Health Expertise Named Georgetown's First Chief Public Health Officer

Georgetown DC

19 April, 2021

11:48 AM

Description

Press release from Georgetown University: April 9, 2021 A family physician and global health expert has been named Georgetown's first chief public health officer (CPHO). Dr. Ranit Mishori, who has served in the position in an interim capacity since last summer, begins in the newly created executive role immediately. Dr. Mishori will serve as Georgetown's first chief public health officer. A professor of family medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, Dr. Mishori says she is excited for the new position, which "is a testament to university leadership's understanding of the importance of public health." The CPHO reports to Geoff Chatas, Georgetown's senior vice president and chief operating officer, and acts as a senior advisor to the President's Office in all efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to public health crises across the campuses. "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Mishori to her new role as the university's permanent chief public health officer – a position she has filled with distinction on an interim basis during the COVID-19 pandemic," Chatas says. Being Ready "The past year has revealed to Georgetown and institutions around the world the centrality of sophisticated public health programs in addressing complex and emergent crises," Chatas says. "Dr. Mishori has been a central voice and leader in our pandemic response, and her expertise will amplify our ongoing commitment to health and well-being on our campuses in substantive ways." As CPHO, Dr. Mishori will co-chair the Public Health Operations Unit along with Marc Barbiere, who is director of the Office of Emergency Management. She will also chair the Public Health Advisory Council, which includes and engages faculty experts in university plans related to COVID-19. A key immediate focus will be on ensuring the continuing health and safety of the community as Georgetown prepares to implement its "return to campus" plan for the fall semester. "The position highlights public health from an operational perspective, from a budget perspective and from a commitment perspective," Dr. Mishori says. "The university is saying we are going to be ready. We're going to be prepared for whatever comes our way." This press release was produced by Georgetown University.The views expressed here are the author's own.