Bechara Choucair (Arabic: بشارة شقير) is a Lebanese-American physician and public health advisor who is the chief community health officer of Kaiser Permanente.[2] He was the senior vice president of safety net and community health at Trinity Health and served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from 2009 to 2014.[3]
Bechara Choucair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| White House Vaccinations Coordinator | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – November 22, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 or 1974 (age 49–50)[1] Beirut, Lebanon |
| Education | American University of Beirut (BS, MD) University of Texas, Dallas (MS) |
Early life and education edit
Choucair was born in Beirut. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Beirut. He then earned a Master of Science degree in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Dallas.[4]
Career edit
Chicago Department of Public Health edit
Choucair was appointed as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health on November 25, 2009, by Richard M. Daley,[5][6] and reappointed by Rahm Emanuel upon his election. He stepped down from the post in December 2014.[7]
Together with Mayor Emanuel, Choucair launched Healthy Chicago in August 2011,[8] the City's first comprehensive public health agenda.[9][10] in different Chicago neighborhoods.
Choucair previously held an appointment at Feinberg School of Medicine as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.[11]
Kaiser edit
Choucair was chief community health officer for Kaiser Permanente.[12]
In April 2018, Choucair led the mission-based nonprofit organization's commitment of $2 million to researching gun injury prevention. As part of this public health initiative, Choucair serves as a co-lead on the Kaiser Permanente Taskforce on Firearm Injury Prevention.[13]
In May 2018, Choucair announced Kaiser Permanente's $200 million impact investing commitment to address affordable housing and prevent displacement, a precursor to homelessness.[14]
Biden administration edit
On December 30, 2020, it was announced that Choucair would serve as White House Vaccinations Coordinator in the incoming Biden administration.[15][16] Choucair stepped down from his role on November 22, 2021, and resumed his role at Kaiser Permanente on December 27, 2021.[17][18][19]
Awards edit
- 2010, Community Leadership Award, Midwest Asian Health Association[20]
- 2011, Healthcare Community Leadership Award, The Chicago Health Executives Forum
- 2012, Friend for Life Award, Howard Brown Health Center[21]
- 2012, Chicago's "40 under 40," Crain's Chicago Business[22]
- 2014, Housing Champion Award, Metropolitan Tenants Organization
- 2019, named sixty-eighth among the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare.[23]
Select publications edit
- Survey of a Bekaa Community Health Needs, LMJ 47:1:13-17, 1999, Jamal N, Choucair B, Khalil H, Hamadeh G.
- Health Care for the Homeless in America, Am Fam Physician, 2006 Oct 1;74(7):1132-8.
- Homelessness and Healthcare: Considerations for Evaluation, Management, and Support within the Primary Care Domain, Disease-a-Month, 2010 Dec 56(12):719-733. Koon A, Kantayya V, Choucair B.
- Program to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening in Low-Income, Racially Diverse Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Annals of Family Medicine, 2012 Sept/October 10 (5): 412-417. Jean-Jacques M., Kaleba E., Gatta J., Gracia G., Ryan E., Choucair, B.
- Chicago Health Atlas: Engaging in Public Health Surveillance Beyond the Confines of the Local Health Department, NACCHO Exchange, winter 2013 12(1). Jones R, Choucair B., O’Neil D., Kho A. Regional Extension Center.
- Select Abstracts
- An Innovative Governmental Approach to Childhood Obesity Prevention in Chicago: The Inter-Departmental Task Force on Childhood Obesity, 2010. American Public Health Association 138th Annual Meeting and Expo. Choucair B, Harrington J, Herd J, Becker A, Bozlak C.
- Poverty Medicine Collaborative: Global Health Experience for Medical Students. 2008. American Academy of Family Physicians Global Health Conference. Choucair B, Koon A.
References edit
- ^ "40 under 40 2012: Bechara Choucair". Crain's Chicago Business. December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "Public Health Leadership". City of Chicago.
- ^ Blog, NPHR (2014-06-12). "An Interview with Bechara Choucair, a Leader in the Journey to a Healthy Chicago!". NPHR Blog. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
- ^ "Choucair Appointed Commissioner of Public Health". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 8 December 2009.
- ^ "Bechara Choucair, MD". Illinois.gov. 8 December 2009.
- ^ "City of Chicago 2013 Budget Overview" (PDF). City of Chicago.
- ^ "City Gets New Prescription for Better Health". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Healthy Chicago" (PDF). City of Chicago.
- ^ "Shaping Healthy Behaviors with PlayStreets". Chicago Medical Society.
- ^ "Bechara N Choucair, MD/MS Profile". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
- ^ "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "Kaiser Permanente Commits $2 Million to Gun Injury Prevention Research - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "Kaiser Permanente Announces $200 Million Impact Investment, Partners With U.S. Mayors and CEOs to Address Housing Stability - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
- ^ "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
- ^ Tozzi, John (November 21, 2021). "Biden Vaccinations Coordinator Choucair Leaving White House". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Bechara Choucair on LinkedIn: Today marks my last day as the White House Vaccinations Coordinator | 292 comments".
- ^ "Bechara Choucair, MD, Returns as Chief Health Officer".
- ^ "MAHA News Before August, 2016". Midwest Asian Health Association. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
- ^ "Friend For Life Award". Howard Brown Health Center.
- ^ "40 Under 40: 2012 - Crain's Chicago Business". www.chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
- ^ "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2019". Modern Healthcare. 6 February 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.