ASTHO Board Selects Michael Fraser to Serve as New Executive Director

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Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Jul 05, 2016, 11:57 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., July 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) announced today that Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE, will serve as the organization's executive director beginning in mid- or late-August 2016.

Fraser has extensive experience leading public health and healthcare associations. Most recently he served as the executive vice president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Medical Society in Harrisburg, PA. During his tenure he worked with physician leaders to transform the Pennsylvania Medical Society into a dynamic, relevant and effective membership organization representing all of the state's physicians.

"I am very excited by this opportunity to continue ASTHO's legacy of leadership for state public health well into the future," said Fraser. "Collectively, state and territorial health officials are a driving force in safeguarding and promoting the health of our nation. ASTHO members make decisions every day that impact the health and well-being of millions of people across the country. I look forward to supporting state and territorial health officials' critical role in the states and territories and forging close partnerships with local, state, national, and federal stakeholders that value ASTHO members' efforts to improve the health of our nation."

In addition to nationally recognized work at the Pennsylvania Medical Society to address the state's opioid misuse and drug abuse crisis, Fraser has been a distinguished leader in public health for almost twenty years. He served as CEO of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) from 2007 to 2013, where his leadership was recognized nationally by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Director's Award in 2014. In addition the American Public Health Association's MCH Section awarded AMCHP the Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award. Prior to joining AMCHP, Fraser was the deputy executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials from 2002 to 2007, and served in several capacities at the US Department of Health and Human Services, including positions at the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fraser received his doctorate in sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in May 1997 and his M.A. in sociology in 1994. He is currently pursuing a M.S. in Management, Strategy and Leadership from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University. Fraser received his B.A. in sociology from Oberlin College in 1991.

Fraser was selected after an extensive search. The ASTHO Board of Directors hired Association Strategies to manage the search and appointed a Search Committee chaired by Terry Cline, PhD, Oklahoma Commissioner of Health and Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Search Committee put forward Fraser and the ASTHO Board, chaired by Edward Ehlinger, MD, MSPH, Minnesota Commissioner of Health, voted to extend an offer at ASTHO's June board meeting.

"Mike is the ideal person to lead ASTHO forward," said Ehlinger. "He is a dynamic leader in the health field, and his experience leading both public health associations and medical societies will serve us well as these two health sectors become increasingly intertwined. His knowledge, wisdom, and personality will guide state and territorial health agencies through the challenges of today's health landscape and position them for a vital leadership role in the future."

ASTHO Interim Executive Director Sharon Moffatt, BSN, MS will continue to play a leadership role on ASTHO staff and help lead and coordinate the transition to the new executive director.

ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in state-based public health practice.

SOURCE Association of State and Territorial Health Officials