Episode #474 A National Voice, With Georges C. Benjamin, MD
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
From Department Chair to City Health Commissioner, Overnight
One phone call changed everything. On a Friday, this week's guest was an academic department chair at a Washington, D.C. hospital. By Monday, he was the city's Commissioner of Health. That unplanned leap set the stage for a career that would eventually lead him to the top role at one of the nation's most influential public health organizations.
In this episode, Dr. Huntley sits down with Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), to trace a career that moved through military emergency medicine, city and state health leadership, and now decades at the helm of APHA. Along the way, Dr. Benjamin shares what it was like to practice emergency medicine when the specialty itself was still finding its footing, and how a "pesky little thing called public health" became the throughline of every role he has held since.
The Strategy Behind Holding Policymakers Accountable
The conversation turns to how APHA is navigating the current political and public health landscape, including the organization's approach to advocacy, coalition building, and transparency. Dr. Benjamin explains why naming specific policymakers and their decisions, rather than speaking in vague generalities, has become central to helping the public understand what is happening to their health and why.
What Still Needs Our Attention
From the return of vaccine preventable diseases to the ongoing realities of maternal health and climate driven disease spread, Dr. Benjamin offers a candid look at the challenges still facing public health. He also shares why he believes collective action, not individual effort alone, will determine whether the field moves forward.
The episode closes with a preview of APHA's upcoming annual meeting in San Antonio, including a few personal stories from Dr. Benjamin's own history with the city.
About Our Guest
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, MD, is a well known health policy leader, practitioner, and administrator. He currently serves as the executive director of the American Public Health Association, the nation's oldest and largest organization of public health professionals. He is also a former secretary of Health for the state of Maryland.
Dr. Benjamin is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, a Master of the American College of Physicians, a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a fellow emeritus of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
He serves on several nonprofit boards, including Research!America and the Environmental Defense Fund, and is a former member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, which advises the President on securing the nation's critical infrastructure.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
A single phone call can redirect a career.
Dr. Benjamin never set out to become a health commissioner. A call from the mayor of Washington, D.C. moved him from academic department chair to the city's top health official almost overnight, launching a career defined by unexpected opportunities.
Public health is the throughline in every role.
Even while practicing emergency medicine or serving in the military, Dr. Benjamin describes seeing himself as the "chief health strategist" for whatever institution he served, long before he held a formal public health title.
Transparency builds trust over time.
Dr. Benjamin shares APHA's approach to public communication, naming specific policymakers and decisions rather than speaking in generalities, and acknowledging mistakes openly when the organization gets something wrong.
Public health cannot go it alone.
From faith communities to the business sector, Dr. Benjamin emphasizes that meaningful progress requires broad coalitions working toward shared goals, not any single organization or discipline acting in isolation.
Old challenges are resurfacing alongside new ones.
Vaccine preventable diseases, climate driven shifts in vector borne illness, and maternal health outcomes remain pressing priorities that require sustained attention from the field.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion remain a legal and societal priority.
Dr. Benjamin speaks to the importance of continuing to advocate for DEI as a legitimate, valuable part of building healthier communities.
Community and connection fuel the work ahead.
As APHA prepares for its annual meeting in San Antonio, Dr. Benjamin reflects on the importance of gathering, networking, and supporting one another, especially during periods of significant change in the field.
"We can't be partisan, but we're fooling ourselves if we don't think that public health is political." - Dr. Georges C. Benjamin
Join The PHEC Podcast Community
The conversation doesn't have to end when the episode does.
If you're looking to connect with other public health professionals, epidemiologists, and change-makers who are passionate about improving health outcomes, we invite you to join our growing community.
Join the community today and continue the conversation with public health professionals who understand your work and share your commitment to making a difference.
Connect With Our Guest:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Public Health Consulting
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
Comments