David Axelrod (physician)

David Axelrod
Commissioner of Health
of the State of New York
In office
1979–1991
GovernorHugh L. Carey; Mario Cuomo
Preceded byRobert P. Whalen
Succeeded byMark R. Chassin[1]
Personal details
Born(1935-01-07)January 7, 1935
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
DiedJuly 4, 1994(1994-07-04) (aged 59)
Cohoes, New York
ResidenceAlbany, New York
Alma materHarvard University (Bachelor's degree with high honors in 1956 and Medical degree in 1960)[2]
OccupationMedical administrator
Professionphysician
Scientific career
FieldsHealth policy
InstitutionsNational Institutes of Health
New York State Department of Health

David Axelrod (1935–1994) was a New York physician and bureaucrat.

Career

After 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

His career ended after he suffered a stroke in February 1991; he died three years later.[2]

References

  1. ^ "A History of New York State's Health Commissioners". www.health.ny.gov. New York State Department of Health. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Olechowski, Carol (Spring 2010). "Dr. Axelrod's VISION" (PDF). UAlbany Magazine. University at Albany. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "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.