Bala Simon, MD, DrPH, FAAFP

Arkansas, Past President

Bala Simon, MD, DrPH, FAAFP is a board-certified Family and Preventive Medicine Physician. Dr. Simon obtained his medical degree (MD) from India and completed a family medicine residency from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in Little Rock, Arkansas. He further completed a fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Preventive Medicine Residency and Fellowship program and became board certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. He obtained his Master of Public Health with emphasis in Epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He further obtained his Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) with emphasis in Health Policy and Epidemiology from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. He is also board-certified in Obesity Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine.

Dr. Simon serves as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Arkansas Department of Health and the State Chronic Disease Director. In this capacity, he provides clinical oversight and leadership to several clinical programs including chronic disease programs such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, tobacco control and prevention, nutrition and physical activity, and substance misuse and injury prevention across the state through Arkansas Department of Health’s 94 Local Health Units. Additionally, he serves as an adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at UAMS Family Medical Center clinic where he provides clinical care to patients; and teaches medical students and residents. He also serves as an adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Epidemiology in UAMS College of Public Health, where he teaches managerial and clinic epidemiology to public health students.

He is widely published in national and internationally reputed journals with over 64 peer-reviewed publications. At the State level, he serves in various boards and commissions including the board of the Arkansas Medical Society, Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians, and in the editorial board of the Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society. Nationally, he serves in the board of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), and CDC Preventive Medicine Residency and Fellowship Program’s Advisory Committee. He has obtained numerous awards for his work, including the Director’s “Service in Science” award for his contribution to Arkansas Department of Health; was honored as “Chronic Disease Champion” by the NACDD; “Physician Volunteer of the Year” and “Community Service Award” for his voluntary work at the Harmony Health Clinic which serves the uninsured and underinsured residents of Central Arkansas. Most recently, he was awarded, ‘Dr. David Bourne Leading Light Award’ for his work on cancer prevention and control in the State by the Arkansas Cancer Coalition.