Dr. Mohammad N. Akhter is executive director of the American Public Health Association, the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world.

Prior to joining APHA, Dr. Akhter was a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was also Health Commissioner for Washington D.C. and Director of the Missouri State Department of Health. Dr. Akhter is a physician with Board Certification in preventive medicine, a clinical professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct professor of international public health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

Under his leadership, APHA has enhanced the collaboration between medicine and public health, expanded its links with other organizations in the public and private sector (e.g. the HHS/APHA partnership to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities), broadened its continuing education programs and adopted global health as an integral part of its mission.

A frequent source for journalists at top news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Fox and NPR, Dr. Akhter's knowledge and dedication has furthered the public's awareness of public health issues.

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