Bechara Choucair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| White House Vaccinations Coordinator | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – November 22, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 or 1974 (age 49–50)[1] Beirut, Lebanon |
| Education | American University of Beirut (BS, MD) University of Texas, Dallas (MS) |
Bechara Choucair (Arabic: بشارة شقير) is a Lebanese-American physician and public health advisor who is the chief community health officer of Kaiser Permanente.[2] He was the senior vice president of safety net and community health at Trinity Health and served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health from 2009 to 2014.[3]
Choucair was born in Beirut. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Beirut. He then earned a Master of Science degree in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Dallas.[4]
Choucair was appointed as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health on November 25, 2009, by Richard M. Daley,[5][6] and reappointed by Rahm Emanuel upon his election. He stepped down from the post in December 2014.[7]
Together with Mayor Emanuel, Choucair launched Healthy Chicago in August 2011,[8] the City's first comprehensive public health agenda.[9][10] in different Chicago neighborhoods.
Choucair previously held an appointment at Feinberg School of Medicine as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.[11]
Choucair was chief community health officer for Kaiser Permanente.[12]
In April 2018, Choucair led the mission-based nonprofit organization's commitment of $2 million to researching gun injury prevention. As part of this public health initiative, Choucair serves as a co-lead on the Kaiser Permanente Taskforce on Firearm Injury Prevention.[13]
In May 2018, Choucair announced Kaiser Permanente's $200 million impact investing commitment to address affordable housing and prevent displacement, a precursor to homelessness.[14]
On December 30, 2020, it was announced that Choucair would serve as White House Vaccinations Coordinator in the incoming Biden administration.[15][16] Choucair stepped down from his role on November 22, 2021, and resumed his role at Kaiser Permanente on December 27, 2021.[17][18][19]
