Bechara Choucair

Bechara Choucair (Arabic: بشارة شقير) is a Lebanese American physician and public health advisor who is the chief community health officer of Kaiser Permanente.[2] He was the senior vice president of safety net and community health at Trinity Health and served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from 2009 to 2014.[3]

Bechara Choucair
White House Vaccinations Coordinator
Assumed office
January 20, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPosition created
Personal details
Born1973/1974 (age 46–47)[1]
Beirut, Lebanon
EducationAmerican University of Beirut (BS, MD)
University of Texas, Dallas (MS), Baylor College of Medicine (Residency)

Early life and education

Choucair was born in Beirut. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Beirut. He then earned a Master of Science degree in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Dallas.[4]

Career

Chicago Department of Public Health

Choucair was appointed as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health on November 25, 2009, by Richard M. Daley,[5][6] and reappointed by Rahm Emanuel upon his election. He stepped down from the post in December 2014.[7]

Together with Mayor Emanuel, Choucair launched Healthy Chicago in August 2011,[8] the City's first comprehensive public health agenda.[9][10] in different Chicago neighborhoods.

Choucair previously held an appointment at Feinberg School of Medicine as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.[11]

Kaiser

Choucair is chief community health officer for Kaiser Permanente.[12]

In April 2018, Choucair led the mission-based nonprofit organization's commitment of $2 million to researching gun injury prevention. As part of this public health initiative, Choucair serves as a co-lead on the Kaiser Permanente Taskforce on Firearm Injury Prevention.[13]

In May 2018, Choucair announced Kaiser Permanente's $200 million impact investing commitment to address affordable housing and prevent displacement, a precursor to homelessness.[14]

Biden administration

On December 30, 2020, it was announced that Choucair would serve as White House Vaccinations Coordinator in the incoming Biden administration.[15][16]

Awards

Select publications

References
  1. "40 under 40 2012: Bechara Choucair". Crain's Chicago Business. December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  3. "Public Health Leadership". City of Chicago.
  4. Blog, NPHR (2014-06-12). "An Interview with Bechara Choucair, a Leader in the Journey to a Healthy Chicago!". NPHR Blog. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  5. "Choucair Appointed Commissioner of Public Health". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
  6. "Bechara Choucair, MD". Illinois.gov.
  7. "City of Chicago 2013 Budget Overview" (PDF). City of Chicago.
  8. "City Gets New Prescription for Better Health". Chicago Tribune.
  9. "Healthy Chicago" (PDF). City of Chicago.
  10. "Shaping Healthy Behaviors with PlayStreets". Chicago Medical Society.
  11. "Bechara N Choucair, MD/MS Profile". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
  12. "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  13. "Kaiser Permanente Commits $2 Million to Gun Injury Prevention Research - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  14. "Kaiser Permanente Announces $200 Million Impact Investment, Partners With U.S. Mayors and CEOs to Address Housing Stability - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  15. "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  16. "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. "MAHA News Before August, 2016". Midwest Asian Health Association. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  18. "Friend For Life Award". Howard Brown Health Center.
  19. "40 Under 40: 2012 - Crain's Chicago Business". www.chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  20. "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2019". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.