American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin MD, FACP, FACEP (E), has been appointed as the fall 2011 Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public Health at Hunter College of the City University of New York. Benjamin will take a brief sabbatical from his role as executive director of APHA and spend one semester pursuing this coveted, fully funded research fellowship.

During his fellowship, Benjamin will teach a course; lead a faculty seminar; give a public lecture; help plan the annual Joan H. Tisch Public Health Forum, and host a lunch for students. In addition, he will pursue public health research over the semester.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Benjamin as our fall 2011 Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public Health at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College,” said Hunter President Jennifer J. Raab. “His breadth of experience and leadership in the field of public health will be an enormous asset to Hunter College and beyond as he helps to inspire future public health practitioners, peer educators and the larger Hunter community.”

“I am grateful for this wonderful, unique opportunity to serve as the Joan Tisch Fellow in Public Health,” said Benjamin. “It will be an invaluable experience both professionally and personally, and allow me to share and learn within a dynamic educational setting such as Hunter College.”

The Tisch Fellowship is made possible by the Joan H. Tisch Legacy Project at Hunter College, which was established by a $1.2 million five-year grant from Steven, Jonathan and Laurie Tisch, the children of New York City humanitarian activist Joan Hyman Tisch. The Tisch Project addresses major urban public health issues, from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, obesity and diabetes to health disparities due to economic and environmental factors.