Speakers

On behalf of the 2021 Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC), we are pleased to announce Donna E. Shalala as the closing keynote speaker for the 2021 Annual Meeting.

A distinguished educator, Shalala was President of the University of Miami (2001-2015), Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1987-1993), and President of Hunter College of the City University of New York (1980-1987). One of the most honored academics of her generation, she has been elected to seven national academies including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Education, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has more than five dozen honorary degrees from American and international universities. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

One of the country's first Peace Corps Volunteers, Shalala's public service also includes serving as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services for eight years in the Clinton administration, and as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research in the Carter administration. She also represented Florida's 27th District which includes most of Miami.

The 2021 AMPC is pleased to announce that Julio Frenk, MD, PHD, MHA, will be the 2021 AUPHA Annual Meeting's opening Pattullo Lecturer. In addition to being the sixth president of the University of Miami, he also holds academic appointments as Professor of Public Health Sciences at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and as Professor of Health Sector Management and Policy at the Business School.

Dr. Frenk has had a diverse career that includes being dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the T & G Angelopoulos Professor of Public Health and International Development, a joint appointment with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Minister of Health of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, and was the founding director-general of the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico.

In summary, Dr. Frenk has an extensive professional record spanning three decades and a career that has included leadership positions in all relevant aspects of public health and higher education: research, teaching, analysis of public policies, institution-building, international cooperation, and national public service. He has also been involved in various initiatives to reform higher education. Please Click Here for more details on Dr. Frenk's background. 

The 2021 AMPC is pleased to announce the addition of Jay Bhatt, D.O., as a keynote speaker for the 2021 Annual Meeting, scheduled to be held in Tampa next June 8 – 10.

Dr. Jay Bhatt is a primary care physician, public health professional, and commentator working to care for the underserved and redesign care for vulnerable populations.  He served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the American Hospital Association and President of HRET. Dr. Bhatt and his team was awarded to support development of tools of patient safety in ambulatory environments, multi-sectorial collaborations, and age friendly health systems. Most recently, he was the first Chief Health Officer at the Illinois Health & Hospital Association. In this role, he led large improvement projects including the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN), which were aimed at reducing readmissions and hospital acquired conditions. He has launched several improvement collaboratives; managed the Medical Executive Forum; led the Midwest Alliance for Patient Safety; launched a physician leadership academy, and designed and advanced a statewide high reliability initiative.

Previously, he was Managing Deputy Commissioner and Chief Innovation Officer for the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). There he led the implementation of Healthy Chicago, the city's public health agenda, and innovations in cross-sector partnerships, predictive analytics, epidemiology and informatics. Under his guidance, the department was been recognized both nationally and internationally in their approach to using predictive analytics to improve food inspections, chronic disease, West-Nile and lead inspections. He also led a groundbreaking initiative with Advocate South Asian Cardiovascular Center in developing the SAHEB (South Asian Healthy Eating Benefits Program). Under his leadership, the Chicago Department of Public Health received an award from the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.