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Bechara Choucair

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Bechara Choucair
White House Vaccinations Coordinator
In office
January 20, 2021 – November 22, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born1973 or 1974 (age 49–50)[1]
Beirut, Lebanon
EducationAmerican University of Beirut (BS, MD)
University of Texas, Dallas (MS)

Bechara Choucair (Arabic: بشارة شقير) is a Lebanese-American physician and public health advisor who is the chief community health officer of Kaiser Permanente.[2] He was the senior vice president of safety net and community health at Trinity Health and served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from 2009 to 2014.[3]

Early life and education

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Choucair was born in Beirut. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Beirut. He then earned a Master of Science degree in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Dallas.[4]

Career

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Chicago Department of Public Health

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Choucair was appointed as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health on November 25, 2009, by Richard M. Daley,[5][6] and reappointed by Rahm Emanuel upon his election. He stepped down from the post in December 2014.[7]

Together with Mayor Emanuel, Choucair launched Healthy Chicago in August 2011,[8] the City's first comprehensive public health agenda.[9][10] in different Chicago neighborhoods.

Choucair previously held an appointment at Feinberg School of Medicine as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.[11]

Kaiser

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Choucair was chief community health officer for Kaiser Permanente.[12]

In April 2018, Choucair led the mission-based nonprofit organization's commitment of $2 million to researching gun injury prevention. As part of this public health initiative, Choucair serves as a co-lead on the Kaiser Permanente Taskforce on Firearm Injury Prevention.[13]

In May 2018, Choucair announced Kaiser Permanente's $200 million impact investing commitment to address affordable housing and prevent displacement, a precursor to homelessness.[14]

Biden administration

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On December 30, 2020, it was announced that Choucair would serve as White House Vaccinations Coordinator in the incoming Biden administration.[15][16] Choucair stepped down from his role on November 22, 2021, and resumed his role at Kaiser Permanente on December 27, 2021.[17][18][19]

Awards

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Select publications

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References

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  1. ^ "40 under 40 2012: Bechara Choucair". Crain's Chicago Business. December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  3. ^ "Public Health Leadership". City of Chicago.
  4. ^ Blog, NPHR (2014-06-12). "An Interview with Bechara Choucair, a Leader in the Journey to a Healthy Chicago!". NPHR Blog. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  5. ^ "Choucair Appointed Commissioner of Public Health". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 8 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Bechara Choucair, MD". Illinois.gov. 8 December 2009.
  7. ^ "City of Chicago 2013 Budget Overview" (PDF). City of Chicago.
  8. ^ "City Gets New Prescription for Better Health". Chicago Tribune.
  9. ^ "Healthy Chicago" (PDF). City of Chicago.
  10. ^ "Shaping Healthy Behaviors with PlayStreets". Chicago Medical Society.
  11. ^ "Bechara N Choucair, MD/MS Profile". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
  12. ^ "Kaiser names first chief community health officer". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  13. ^ "Kaiser Permanente Commits $2 Million to Gun Injury Prevention Research - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  14. ^ "Kaiser Permanente Announces $200 Million Impact Investment, Partners With U.S. Mayors and CEOs to Address Housing Stability - Kaiser Permanente Share". Kaiser Permanente Share. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  15. ^ "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  16. ^ "Kaiser Permanente chief health officer tapped as Biden vaccinations coordinator". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. ^ Tozzi, John (November 21, 2021). "Biden Vaccinations Coordinator Choucair Leaving White House". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  18. ^ "Bechara Choucair on LinkedIn: Today marks my last day as the White House Vaccinations Coordinator | 292 comments".
  19. ^ "Bechara Choucair, MD, Returns as Chief Health Officer".
  20. ^ "MAHA News Before August, 2016". Midwest Asian Health Association. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  21. ^ "Friend For Life Award". Howard Brown Health Center.
  22. ^ "40 Under 40: 2012 - Crain's Chicago Business". www.chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  23. ^ "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2019". Modern Healthcare. 6 February 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
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