David Axelrod (1935–1994) was a New York physician and bureaucrat.
David Axelrod | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of Health of the State of New York | |
| In office 1979–1991 | |
| Governor | Hugh L. Carey; Mario Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Robert P. Whalen |
| Succeeded by | Mark R. Chassin[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 7, 1935 Great Barrington, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 4, 1994 (aged 59) Cohoes, New York |
| Residence | Albany, New York |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (Bachelor's degree with high honors in 1956 and Medical degree in 1960)[2] |
| Occupation | Medical administrator |
| Profession | physician |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Health policy |
| Institutions | National Institutes of Health New York State Department of Health |
Career
editAfter obtaining his medical degree from Harvard in 1960, he served a two-year residency in Rochester. He then worked for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland as a virus research scientist until joining the New York State Department of Health in 1968.[2]
He was Health Commissioner for the State of New York in the 1980s and 1990s. He was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey and served under Governor Mario Cuomo as well.[2] He is considered to be the nation's foremost public health official of the 1980s. [3]
He worked on issues of regulating doctors and hospitals, the confidentiality of AIDS patients, anti-smoking legislation and universal health insurance.[2]
In the 1980s, Axelrod collaborated with the President of the University at Albany, SUNY to establish the School of Public Health.[4] The university named a fellowship after him.[5]
He also suffered a tarnished reputation in his handling of Love Canal, and was not transparent or forthcoming in his communications with the 700 affected families.
Death
editHis career ended after he suffered a stroke in February 1991; he died three years later.[2]
References
edit- ^ "A History of New York State's Health Commissioners". www.health.ny.gov. New York State Department of Health. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e McFadden, Robert D. (July 5, 1994). "David Axelrod, Health Chief Under Cuomo, Is Dead at 59". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
- ^ Millock, Peter J. (Winter 2009). "David Axelrod, M.D.:His Impact on the Law and Public Policy". NYSBA Health Law Journal. 14 (1): 64–72. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ Olechowski, Carol (Spring 2010). "Dr. Axelrod's VISION" (PDF). UAlbany Magazine. University at Albany. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
- ^ "The David Axelrod Fellowship: Honoring A Leader in Public Health". Albany magazine. University at Albany. January 2000. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2012.