Health Systems Administration Chair to Serve on D.C. Commission on Health Equity
July 16, 2019 – Last week, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to approve the appointment of Dr. Christopher King to serve on the Commission on Health Equity.
“As a native Washingtonian, it is an honor to serve my city and advance the work of a priority that is aligned with my work experience, academic training, and passion,” said King, an associate professor at the School of Nursing & Health Studies who recently began his role as chair of the Department of Health Systems Administration.
According to the council’s website, the commission was created “to prepare, through the Department of Health’s Office on Violence Prevention and Health Equity, comprehensive recommendations to the Department of Health, the council, and the mayor that examine and address health inequities across the District and differing opportunities for healthcare by demographic subpopulations and geographic areas, including in each election ward of the District.” (Learn about the commission.)
‘Social Mobility and Optimal Health’
King has built his career around health equity, previously serving as the director of a federally qualified health center in Maryland and as the first assistant vice president of community health for MedStar Health.
At Georgetown, he served as the faculty leader of a report, requested by the D.C. Commission on African American Affairs, entitled, The Health of the African American Community in the District of Columbia: Disparities and Recommendations.
“Within the past decade, our city has reaped the benefits of a prosperous economy,” King adds. “No one should be left behind. As a commissioner, I will use my voice to build upon existing efforts to ensure that all residents, particularly those who have been left behind, have access to the essential resources for social mobility and optimal health.”
Dr. Patricia Cloonan, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Studies, congratulated King on this new role.
“Promoting health equity and addressing the social determinants of health are a part of our school’s Mission, Vision, and Values Statement,” Cloonan says. “Dr. King has been a leader in our collective work in this area, and I am so pleased to see his efforts and expertise recognized through this important appointment in the city.”