FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Paige Rohe, 404-924-8295

ATLANTA (Oct. 1, 2020) – The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) announces the launch of its Coordinating Center for Public Health Practice to advance the science and art of public health practice for chronic disease prevention and health promotion.

“While we have had enormous success in growing our public health portfolios, it is imperative that we have a Coordinating Center for Public Health Practice that is focused on the immediate programmatic needs of our state Chronic Disease Directors and their staff,” said John W. Robitscher, MPH, NACDD’s CEO. “We are proud to have the overwhelming support of our Board to make this a priority and reality. “

Led by NACDD’s Director of Public Health Practice, Jeanne Alongi, DrPH, MPH, the new Center will work closely with State and Territorial Health Departments to create healthy communities, equitable opportunities for health, and to facilitate a modernized health system.  

“The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors has a long history of supporting evidence-based prevention efforts in states to reduce the burden of chronic disease,” said Dr. Alongi. “With the launch of this new Coordinating Center, we will be able to build on that history and apply this same approach to the art and science of public health practice. We look forward to collaborating with our State Health Department Members on this important work in support of population health improvement.”

The Coordinating Center’s work will build upon NACDD’s previous successes and existing program infrastructure in evaluation, workforce capacity, organizational capacity, and strategic leadership capacity. Through programs like STAR (STate Activation and Response), thought-leader roundtables, and the Chronic Disease Directors Forum, NACDD has become a trusted voice for organizational and leadership development as well as program innovation.

Looking forward, the Center will prioritize many of NACDD’s existing strategic goals in: disseminating innovation in public health practice, synthesizing new science and practice advancement across disciplines and sectors, and convening visionary leadership to guide action and growth for the current and future public health workforce.

In response to NACDD’s Board of Directors’ call to action on health equity and the root determinants of health, the Coordinating Center also will elevate voices and expertise that can inform the Center’s approaches and programming on these issues. 

“The launch of the Center is timely and will further NACDD’s overarching Mission to support workforce development, advance healthy equity, and provide technical assistance to states,” said Dr. Susan Kansagra, Board President for NACDD. “This Center will extend the reach and impact of chronic disease prevention and control activities and will be a great resource for states.”

READ MORE ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORK

####

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Promoting Health. Preventing Disease. 

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and its more than 7,000 Members seek to strengthen state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in states and nationally. Established in 1988, in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NACDD is the only membership association of its kind to serve and represent every chronic disease division in all states and U.S. territories. For more information, visit chronicdisease.org.