NWCPHP has new leadership

On July 15, 2008, Jack Thompson, MSW stepped down as director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. Under his leadership for the past eight years, NWCPHP has become a vital resource to state and local health departments the six-state region that the Center serves. During his tenure, NWCPHP has developed an extensive distance-learning program, including the Hot Topics in Preparedness Web conferencing forum, just-in-time training, and online training modules. Jack will continue to be active in both the Center and in the Department of Health Services in coming years.

Susan Allan, MD, JD, MPH has taken over as director of the Center. Her extensive qualifications include 17 years as the health director for Arlington County Department of Human Services in Virginia and three years as Public Health Director and State Health Officer for Oregon Department of Human Services. Susan has degrees from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School and Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. She is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine and General Public Health. NWCPHP welcomes Susan and looks forward to expanding into public health systems research under her leadership.