There’s a new face on the CDC Foundation Board of Directors with the election of Raymond J. Baxter, PhD, senior vice president for community benefit, research and health policy for Kaiser Permanente.
The CDC Foundation focuses its work on building partnerships between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and corporations, foundations and individuals that, in turn, support the CDC’s 24/7 work to fight threats to health and safety.
Baxter, who has a distinguished career in public health, has long been recognized as a leader in the space. In 2006, he was the recipient of the 2006 CDC Foundation Hero Award in recognition for addressing the health consequences of Hurricane Katrina, as well as for his longstanding commitment to improving the health of communities. In 2001, U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health honored Baxter’s efforts working at the San Francisco Department of Public Health during the AIDS epidemic.
Today, Baxter leads the work that fulfills Kaiser Permanente’s social mission, which includes care and coverage for low-income people, community health initiatives, health equity and environmental stewardship. He also leads the health organization’s efforts in research and health policy.
In a recent interview with the CDC Foundation, when asked about the source of his passion for improving the health of communities, Baxter points out, “the health of communities is a matter of social justice that literally affects everyone’s health and quality of life….It’s about equity.”
He goes on to note that his mission-driven work at Kaiser Permanente means addressing health needs across the board, “from individuals and families to homes, schools, worksites, neighborhoods, and the broader society.”
You can read Baxter’s Q&A in its entirety on the CDC Foundation blog.
