Feinberg Faculty Member, Bechara Choucair, Appointed Chicago Public Health Commissioner
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| Bechara Choucair, MD, adjunct assistant professor in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. |
Bechara Choucair, MD, adjunct assistant professor in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine, was recently appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
“I am honored that Mayor Daley asked me to serve the City of Chicago at this turning point for health care in our country,” Choucair said.
As commissioner, Choucair leads the charge in fulfilling the department’s mission to make Chicago a safer and healthier city by working with community partners to promote health, prevent disease, reduce environmental hazards and ensure access to health care.
For over three years, Choucair has served as assistant professor and chair for community medicine at Feinberg, and as executive director and medical director of Heartland International Health Center — a community health care program for the underserved that is achieved in partnership with the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Russell Robertson, MD, professor and chair in the Feinberg Department of Family and Community Medicine, is proud of Choucair and feels that Choucair’s new position is well-deserved.
“Through a commendable display of intelligence, integrity and accomplishment, Dr. Choucair has transformed the Heartland Alliance’s clinical division and developed a profile as a credible partner and skilled diplomat, earning him high grades from all who have worked with him,” Robertson said.
Robertson is also excited about Choucair’s new role in the city and says this appointment is as an opportunity for Feinberg to extend its community engagement commitments.
“Dr. Choucair is already making plans to meet with senior leadership at the medical school — those people whose current academic expertise would align with projects that he sees as essential to fulfilling the city’s obligations to its citizens,” Robertson said.