Dr. Daniel Edney named president of national public health organization

By Gwen Dilworth | Originally published by Mississippi Today

Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney is becoming  president of a national nonprofit organization representing public health agencies across the United States, the group announced Wednesday. 

Edney will lead the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials for a one-year term while continuing to lead the Mississippi State Department of Health. He plans to focus his presidency on maternal and infant health, rural health and highlighting the important work of states and territories, according to a press release from the association. 

“Our nation’s public health leaders face increasingly complex challenges, but we also have tremendous opportunities to strengthen our public health system through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to improving the health of every community,” Edney said. “I am honored to serve as ASTHO president and look forward to working with my colleagues to advance policies and partnerships that support a healthier nation.”

ASTHO’s members are chief health officials from across the U.S. The organization works to develop public health leaders, support their agencies through training and technical assistance, and advocate for resources and policies that improve public health. 

Edney spent the past year serving as the organization’s president-elect. He succeeds Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, as president. 

“It is a real privilege to welcome Dr. Edney as ASTHO’s next president,” said Dr. Joseph Kanter, the organization’s CEO. “He brings a remarkable depth of experience — not only as a visionary state health leader guiding Mississippi through critical public health milestones, but also as a frontline clinician deeply committed to tackling complex challenges like the opioid crisis.”

Edney has served as Mississippi’s state health officer since August 2022. He succeeded Dr. Thomas Dobbs. Edney previously served as the state agency’s deputy state health officer and chief medical officer and worked closely with Dobbs on the department’s COVID-19 response. 

He is also a former president of the Mississippi State Medical Association and former board member of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. He was in private practice in Vicksburg for more than 30 years, and is a board-certified general internist with a subspecialty board certification in addiction medicine.

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article