Baltimore City Health Commissioner Named—Dean Klag Leads Search Committee (web article)

New York City public health official, Oxiris Barbot, MD, was named health commissioner by Baltimore City Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Barbot was one of several candidates interviewed by the mayor and the Mayoral National Health Commissioner Search Committee led by Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

An award-winning public health practitioner and pediatrician, Barbot served as the medical director of the Office of School Health in New York City. Barbot was charged with implementing health policy in the nation’s largest school system and commended for her work creating an electronic medical records system for more than one million students. Prior to her tenure in New York City, Barbot was the Chief of Pediatrics and Community Medicine at Unity Health Care, Inc. in Washington, D.C.  

Barbot received a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, and her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She has published several articles in leading U.S. journals and was most recently awarded the Hispanic Health Leadership Award from the National Hispanic Medical Association. Barbot comes to this position with experience providing medical presentation on timely issues such as the H1N1 response, school health, and health coverage for Hispanic Americans.

“Baltimore has a long history of dynamic and visionary health commissioners and we are confident that Dr. Barbot will continue this legacy,” said Klag. “Wherever she has gone, she has built an impressive track record of leadership and accomplishments. The search process was thorough and rigorous, with over 40 dedicated and distinguished public health professionals vying for the job. The Bloomberg School faculty and staff as well as all of the stakeholders represented on the search committee look forward to working with her to fulfill the Mayor’s vision of a healthier Baltimore.”