Joseph Telfair, DrPH, MSW, MPH, professor of public health practice and research and chair of the Department of Community Health at Georgia Southern University was officially named president of the American Public Health Association.

“My approach to, and practice of, leadership is to utilize my knowledge, skills and experience to identify and take on roles that allow me to make the greatest contribution to public health,” Telfair said. “Having this leadership gives me a unique and privileged opportunity to serve.”

Telfair has nearly 31 years of experience as a clinician, community advocate, academic, evaluator, project director and researcher. He has been a public health faculty member, advocate and leader in three schools of public health for 25 years, working with diverse populations in community-based settings, primary care and public health at the domestic and global levels. Telfair is the Karl Peace Distinguished Professor of Public Health in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern.

As a 29-year member of the American Public Health Association, Telfair has served in numerous leadership roles, including being a member of both the maternal and child health and social work sections, member and chair of the nominating committee, member of the executive board, finance committee, governance committee, strategic planning committee, social responsibility committee and on the membership development taskforce.

“Based on my years as a member, I have been fortunate to gain vast experience and knowledge of APHA, work with outstanding public health professionals and have continually demonstrated my commitment to the organization and the cause of public health,” he said.

Telfair was named president-elect in 2016. His name was submitted by his American Public Health Association sections and by the Georgia Public Health Association to the association’s nominating committee. He and one other candidate were then selected, and their names were sent forth to a 200 member governing council and 24-member executive board who, after a six-month campaign, elected Telfair.

APHA is the leading public health organization in the U.S. and the world, representing more than 25,000 members from all disciplines of public health in the U.S. and in more than 40 countries.