Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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March 24, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2022
Contact: Press@Michigan.gov
Lt. Governor Gilchrist Celebrates Appointment of Dr. Debra Furr-Holden as Dean of NYU’s School of Global Public Health
LANSING, Mich. – Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued a statement today recognizing the appointment of Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, who currently serves as a member of the Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force, as Dean of New York University’s School of Global Public Health, one of the nation’s top public health programs.
“I have had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Furr-Holden over the last few years, and at every turn, I have seen her intellect, her compassion for other people, her ability to bring people together, and her dedication to bettering her community, state, and world,” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist. “I want to thank Dr. Furr-Holden for her work on the Racial Disparities Task Force and wish her the best as she continues to impart her expertise and commitment to the next generation of public health professionals. Dr. Furr-Holden, you make Michigan proud.”
Dr. Debra Furr-Holden serves as the C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health, Associate Dean for Public Health Integration, and Director of the Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine.
She serves on the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities in addition to her roles on the Greater Flint Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Inequity and the New York City African American COVID-19 Task Force. On April 9, 2020, Governor Whitmer created the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, which is chaired by Lt. Governor Gilchrist. While Black residents only make up 15% of Michigan’s population, they represented a staggering 29.4% of the cases and 40.7% of the deaths in the early days of tracking COVID-19 data based on race. Since the task force began its work, the state has seen significant progress in limiting the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. A study by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices found that the task force has made significant and sustainable progress towards its goal of reducing health-based racial disparities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is a distinguished academic, researcher, and advocate who is committed to improving health equity in communities across the nation and bringing a diverse set of voices to the table. She has an extensive career working with state and national policymakers to bring about change and respond to public health challenges.
The NYU School of Global Public Health is a top public health educator drawing on the resources and multi-disciplinary strength of NYU to educate students and address public health challenges.
Dr. Furr Holden received her BA from Johns Hopkins University and her PhD from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a resident of Flint, Michigan.
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