Dave A. Chokshi

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Dave A. Chokshi
Dr. Chokshi in 2015
43rd Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health
In office
August 4, 2020 – March 15, 2022
MayorBill de Blasio
Eric Adams
Preceded byOxiris Barbot
Succeeded byAshwin Vasan
Personal details
Born
Dave Ashok Chokshi

(1981-05-08) May 8, 1981 (age 42)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Children2
Residence(s)Queens, New York, U.S.
EducationDuke University (BA)
University of Oxford (MSc)
University of Pennsylvania (MD)
AwardsRhodes Scholarship
Truman Scholarship
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship

Dave Ashok Chokshi (born May 8, 1981) is an American physician and former public health official who served as the 43rd health commissioner of New York City.[1] He was the first health commissioner of Asian descent.[2] Chokshi previously served as the inaugural chief population health officer for NYC Health + Hospitals and as a White House fellow in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[3] Currently he is a practicing physician at Bellevue Hospital and the inaugural Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, part of the City College of New York.[4][5]

Early life and education

Chokshi was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[6] where he graduated as valedictorian from Baton Rouge Magnet High School. Then, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University, where he double-majored in chemistry and public policy studies.[7] As a Rhodes Scholar, Chokshi earned two Master of Science degrees, in global public health and in comparative social policy, from the University of Oxford. He earned a medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected by his peers to win the Joel Gordon Miller Prize, and completed internal medicine residency at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.[8]

Career

Chokshi previously served in the Louisiana Department of Health during Hurricane Katrina. He was a White House Fellow during the Obama administration and served as principal health advisor to the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Chokshi served on the FEMA delegation to New York City after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Chokshi has been a primary care internist at Bellevue Hospital since 2014 and a clinical professor of population health and medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. In addition to serving as the chief population health officer for NYC Health + Hospitals, Chokshi was also the Chief Executive Officer of the NYC Health + Hospitals Accountable Care Organization, one of the few ACOs in the nation to achieve high quality and cost performance for ten consecutive years.[9][10]

Chokshi has written widely on public health and medicine including in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, The Lancet, Health Affairs, Science and Scientific American. In 2016, President Obama appointed him to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health.[11]

In August 2020, Chokshi was selected to serve as health commissioner of New York City after the previous commissioner, Oxiris Barbot, resigned amid disagreements with then-Mayor Bill de Blasio over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13][14] During his tenure, he led the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its historic campaign to vaccinate over 6 million New Yorkers, saving tens of thousands of lives.[15][16][17][18] Chokshi architected treatment strategies, navigated school and economic reopenings, and served as principal public spokesperson.[19] Under his tenure, the Health Department’s budget grew to its highest-ever level, reflecting investment in signature initiatives such as the Public Health Corps, Pandemic Response Institute, and New Family Home Visiting program.[20][21] In 2021, the Department also stewarded the launch of the nation’s first publicly-authorized overdose prevention centers—as well as a landmark Board of Health resolution on racism as a public health crisis.[22][23][24]

In December 2021, Chokshi announced he will serve as health commissioner until March 2022 for purposes of transition for incoming Mayor Eric Adams.[25] Adams announced March 11, 2022 as Dr. Dave Chokshi Day "for his leadership during the pandemic and his dedication to protecting and improving the health of all New Yorkers."[26] Chokshi stepped down from his role as health commissioner on March 15, 2022.[27]

Since stepping down, Chokshi has spoken and written about several health topics, including: the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, how to reverse the decline in American life expectancy, combating medical misinformation, universal health care, reforming public health, and focusing on 'health span' beyond lifespan.[28][29][30][31][32][33] In August 2023, Chokshi was appointed the inaugural Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership at the Colin Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership, part of the City College of New York, within the City University of New York (CUNY) system.[34] He also teaches at the CUNY School of Public Health, where he is a senior scholar.[35]

Personal life

Chokshi lives in Jackson Heights, Queens with his wife and two daughters.[36] Chokshi's wife is a public school teacher and administrator.[37] He is the son of Indian immigrants.[38]

In February 2021, Chokshi tested positive for COVID-19 and shared his personal story to encourage New Yorkers to get vaccinated.[39][40]

See also

References

  1. ^ Closson, Troy (2020-08-05). "Why N.Y.C. Has a New Health Commissioner". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  2. ^ Mamtora, Dhriti. "A Profile on the NYC Health Commissioner Dave A. Chokshi". The Science Survey. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  3. ^ Coltin, Jeff (2020-08-04). "5 things to know about Dave Chokshi, NYC's new health commissioner". CSNY. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  4. ^ "Former New York City Health Commissioner Named Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership". CUNY Newswire. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  5. ^ York, The City College of New (2023-09-26). "Dave Chokshi". The City College of New York. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  6. ^ "40 Under 40 - Dave Chokshi". Crain's New York Business. 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  7. ^ "Two Duke Juniors Named 2002 Truman Scholars". today.duke.edu. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  8. ^ Acevedo, Angélica (2020-08-04). "Queens-based doctor set to replace Oxiris Barbot as new Department of Health commissioner". amNewYork. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  9. ^ "Dave Chokshi, MD, Appointed Chief Population Health Officer". www.nychealthandhospitals.org (in Maltese). Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  10. ^ "For the Tenth Consecutive Year, NYC Health + Hospitals' Accountable Care Organization Earns Significant Medicare Shared Savings". NYC Health + Hospitals. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  11. ^ "President Obama Appoints NYC Health + Hospitals' Dr. Dave Chokshi to National Advisory Group". www.nychealthandhospitals.org (in Maltese). Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  12. ^ "NYC's Health Commissioner Resigns After Clashes With Mayor". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  13. ^ "NYC public health chief resigns after friction over COVID-19". AP News. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  14. ^ Office, NYC Mayor's (2020-08-05). "Introducing Dr. Dave Chokshi". Medium. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  15. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (March 14, 2022). "New York's Vaccine Mandates Saved Lives, Departing Health Boss Says". New York Times.
  16. ^ "City's COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Has Prevented an Estimated 48,000 Deaths, 300,000 - NYC Health". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  17. ^ Sah, Pratha; Vilches, Thomas N.; Moghadas, Seyed M.; Pandey, Abhishek; Gondi, Suhas; Schneider, Eric C.; Singer, Jesse; Chokshi, Dave A.; Galvani, Alison P. (2022). "Return on Investment of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in New York City". JAMA Network Open. 5 (11): e2243127. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.43127. PMC 9679875. PMID 36409495. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  18. ^ Cohn, Ezra; Chimowitz, Michael; Long, Theodore; Varma, Jay K.; Chokshi, Dave A. (September 2022). "The effect of a proof-of-vaccination requirement, incentive payments, and employer-based mandates on COVID-19 vaccination rates in New York City: a synthetic-control analysis". The Lancet. Public Health. 7 (9): e754–e762. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00196-7. ISSN 2468-2667. PMC 9433052. PMID 36057274.
  19. ^ Farewell Commissioner Chokshi | Favorite PSA moments, retrieved 2023-10-22
  20. ^ "Testimony of Dave A. Chokshi, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, before the City Council of New York" (PDF). March 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Mayor de Blasio Launches the NYC Public Health Corps". The official website of the City of New York. September 29, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  22. ^ Harocopos, Alex; Gibson, Brent E.; Saha, Nilova; McRae, Michael T.; See, Kailin; Rivera, Sam; Chokshi, Dave A. (2022-07-15). "First 2 Months of Operation at First Publicly Recognized Overdose Prevention Centers in US". JAMA Network Open. 5 (7): e2222149. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22149. ISSN 2574-3805. PMC 9287749. PMID 35838672.
  23. ^ Giglio, Rebecca E.; Mantha, Shivani; Harocopos, Alex; Saha, Nilova; Reilly, Jacqueline; Cipriano, Chelsea; Kennelly, Maura; Landau, Lisa; McRae, Michael; Chokshi, Dave A. (April 2023). "The Nation's First Publicly Recognized Overdose Prevention Centers: Lessons Learned in New York City". Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. 100 (2): 245–254. doi:10.1007/s11524-023-00717-y. ISSN 1099-3460. PMC 10072795. PMID 37016269.
  24. ^ Zraick, Karen (October 19, 2021). "Racism Is Declared a Public Health Crisis in New York City". New York Times.
  25. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (22 December 2021). "Mental Health Expert Will Lead New York's Pandemic Response". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 Dec 2021.
  26. ^ "NYC honors health commissioner for 'leadership during the pandemic'". Washington Examiner. 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  27. ^ Dr. Dave Chokshi wraps up final day as NYC health commissioner, retrieved 2023-10-22
  28. ^ Chokshi, Dave A. (May 18, 2022). "The Pandemic's Most Important Lesson: A Call for Bold Change".
  29. ^ Chokshi, Dave (August 31, 2022). "Life Expectancy Is Falling. Here's How to Change That". New York Times.
  30. ^ Knudsen, Janine; Perlman-Gabel, Maddie; Uccelli, Isabella Guerra; Jeavons, Jessica; Chokshi, Dave A. (2023-01-18). "Combating Misinformation as a Core Function of Public Health". NEJM Catalyst. 4 (2): CAT.22.0198. doi:10.1056/CAT.22.0198. ISSN 2642-0007. PMC 9923817.
  31. ^ Chokshi, Dave A. (2023-04-16). "The pandemic cracked the door open to universal health care. Here's how we could get there". Salon. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  32. ^ Chokshi, Dave A. "Here's How CDC Can Put the 'Public' Back in Public Health". Scientific American. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  33. ^ Chokshi, Dave (September 28, 2023). "Forget About Living to 100. Let's Live Healthier Instead". New York Times.
  34. ^ "Former New York City Health Commissioner Named Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership". CUNY Newswire. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  35. ^ "Former NYC Health Commissioner Dave A. Chokshi to join CUNY SPH as Senior Scholar". CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  36. ^ "Mayor de Blasio Announces Dr. Dave A. Chokshi as DOHMH Commissioner". The official website of the City of New York. Aug 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  37. ^ "NYC's New Health Commissioner Takes Over Amid a Public Health Crisis". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  38. ^ Office, NYC Mayor's (2020-08-05). "Introducing Dr. Dave Chokshi". Medium. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  39. ^ Hicks, Nolan (2021-02-03). "NYC Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi tests positive for COVID-19". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  40. ^ Henican, Ellis. "When COVID hit home for NYC's health commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
Government offices
Preceded by Commissioner of Health of the City of New York
2020–March 15, 2022
Succeeded by