John Howard, M.D., New Director of NIOSH

Below is a message from Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. Director, CDC, and Administrator, ATSDR:

I am pleased to announce the selection of John Howard, M.D., as the new director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); he’ll assume his new role on September 8, 2009. Dr. Howard previously served as the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health from 2002 through 2008.  He also served as Coordinator of HHS’ World Trade Center Health Programs from 2006 to 2008.  He will again assume a dual role, and serve as the World Trade Center Programs Coordinator for HHS.

Dr. Howard is one of the nation’s leaders in occupational health and worker safety.  He has worked with scientists, medical professionals and workers to effectively lead investigations into new and potential health hazards and address workplace health and safety concerns.  Importantly, he brings to this position the dedication and passion needed to achieve the safest workplaces possible.

He is board-certified in internal medicine, legal medicine, and occupational medicine. He is also admitted to the practice of medicine and law in the State of California and in the District of Columbia, and he is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar.  He has written numerous articles on occupational health, law, and policy and serves as a Professorial Lecturer in Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health and Health Services at the George Washington University.

Dr. Howard received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University of Chicago in 1974, a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard University School of Public Health in 1982, a Doctor of Laws from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1986, and a Master of Laws degree in Administrative Law and Economic Regulation from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1987.

I would also like to thank Christine Branche, Ph.D., for her excellent work over the past year as Acting Director of NIOSH. Christine will remain at NIOSH and will work with John to ensure a smooth transition of authority and prepare to transition into her next position as a Distinguished Consultant in the Office of the Director.

Please join me in welcoming John back to the leadership of NIOSH and thanking Christine for her service as acting director.