Bechara Choucair

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Bechara Choucair is a Lebanese-American physician and public health expert. He is known for his work in healthcare administration and his contributions to public health policy in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Bechara Choucair was born in Lebanon. He completed his medical degree at the American University of Beirut. He later moved to the United States, where he completed his residency in family medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He also holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Career

Early Career

Choucair began his career as a family physician, working in various clinical settings. He quickly moved into healthcare administration, taking on leadership roles in several healthcare organizations.

Chicago Department of Public Health

In 2009, Choucair was appointed as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). During his tenure, he focused on addressing health disparities, improving access to healthcare, and implementing public health initiatives. He played a key role in the development and implementation of the city's public health agenda, which included efforts to reduce tobacco use, promote healthy eating, and increase access to mental health services.

Kaiser Permanente

After his tenure at CDPH, Choucair joined Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest not-for-profit health plans in the United States. He served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Community Health Officer, where he led efforts to improve community health and address social determinants of health.

White House COVID-19 Response Team

In 2021, Choucair was appointed as the Vaccinations Coordinator for the White House COVID-19 Response Team under the administration of President Joe Biden. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the country.

Contributions to Public Health

Choucair has been a vocal advocate for addressing social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and economic stability. He has emphasized the importance of community health and the need for healthcare systems to work collaboratively with community organizations to improve health outcomes.

Personal Life

Choucair is married and has children. He continues to be active in public health and healthcare administration.

See Also

• Public health
• Healthcare administration
• Social determinants of health
• COVID-19 pandemic