NCMHD Announces New Acting Director for Scientific
Programs
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Nathaniel Stinson,
Jr., Ph.D., M.D., has been appointed acting director, Office of
Scientific Programs, National Center on Minority Health and Health
Disparities (NCMHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chief
among his responsibilities will be direct oversight of the NCMHD's
Community Based Participatory Research Initiative and Loan Repayment
Programs.
"I have worked closely with Dr. Stinson for almost 20 years," said
John Ruffin, Ph.D., Director, NCMHD. "His vast experience
in minority health and health disparities at the Department level
as well as his commitment to the kind of translational research
fostered by the NCMHD make him uniquely qualified to oversee some
of our most important scientific programs."
"Health disparities remain one of the most pressing issues
for the nation, and while the ultimate solution to eliminating
health disparities is complex, there are several fundamental core
actions that need to be taken," said Stinson. "From creating
a diverse health professional workforce to enhancing the research
infrastructure in academic and community-based organizations, the
leadership of the NCMHD stands out like a beacon for others to
follow. To be a part of such an effort will be quite rewarding."
Prior to joining the NCMHD, Stinson was president of The Health
Literacy Foundation, Munster, Ind. Before that Stinson served as
the director of the Center for Optimal Health and professor of
Family and Community Medicine at Meharry Medical College, Nashville,
Tenn.
Stinson began his federal career in Arizona as a medical officer
with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he
practiced family medicine at the Indian Health Service's Chinle
Comprehensive Health Care Facility. Stinson quickly rose within
the ranks of the U.S. Public Health Service and in 1999 was appointed
as the acting deputy assistant secretary for minority health, HHS.
One year later he was named HHS' deputy assistant secretary for
health, serving as a senior advisor to the assistant secretary
for health and the secretary, HHS.
Stinson earned his doctorate in environmental biology from the
University of Colorado; doctor of medicine degree from the University
of Colorado Medical School; and masters of public health degree
in health services administration from the Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences.
Stinson, a board-certified family practice specialist, has been
honored throughout his career for his accomplishments. His recognitions
include the Louis B. Stokes Leadership Award from the National
Medical Association. U.S. Public Health Service awards include
the Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal, Outstanding Service
Medal, Crises Response Service Award and National Emergency Preparedness
Service Ribbon.
The NCMHD (http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov)
is a component of the NIH. The NCMHD promotes minority health and
leads, coordinates, supports and assesses the NIH effort to eliminate
health disparities. The NCMHD programs focus on expanding the nation's
ability to conduct research and to build a diverse culturally-competent
research workforce to eliminate health disparities.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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