Former CDC director named president, CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Richard Besser, MD, the former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been selected as the new president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
"It is truly an honor to be selected to lead RWJF, a foundation so deeply committed to building a culture of health in this country," Besser said in a statement. "Working to improve the health and well-being of all Americans is a high calling. Doing it here, with an organization of such stature and credibility will be a great honor and privilege."
Besser was CDC director under President Barack Obama from January to June 2009, leading the agency’s response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Along with stints at the CDC as epidemiologist, his resume includes a five-year stint at University of California, San Diego as the pediatric residency director.
He was most recently juggling several roles as professor of pediatrics at Columbia University, a distinguished visiting fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health and chief health and medical editor for ABC News.
“Richard Besser is a superb choice to lead RWJF into the next stage of our work," said Roger Fine, chairman of the foundation's board. "He is a smart, empathetic leader and communicator—someone who can build on the great energy we have been developing around our Culture of Health vision.”
Besser replaces Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, who had been in the position since January 2003 and announced her intention to step down in September 2016.
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.