President
Deanna J. Wathington brings over 25 years of practice and academic experience in the field with emphasis on collaboration across multiple sectors to address and optimize community health. She currently serves as clinical director at REACHUP, Inc. and as an affiliate professor in the College of Public Health (University of South Florida). She previously served as dean of the College of Health Sciences (Bethune-Cookman University), associate dean for Academic and Student Affairs (USF College of Public Health), associate dean for Academic Enrichment (USF College of Medicine) and as the director of the Office of Minority Health (Florida Department of Health).
Dr. Wathington has served on a number of national/regional committees and currently serves on the Council on Education for Public Health and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety as an APHA representative. She also serves on the ASPPH Workforce Advisory Committee and as executive director of the Consortium of African American Public Health Programs. Previous service includes the National Partnership for Women and Families Listening to Mothers Advisory Group, the National Academies (Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) Committee on Progress toward Human Health and Community Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico Region, the US Department of Health and Human Services NPA Region IV Southeastern Health Equity Council, and as chair of the executive board of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Wathington earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – New Jersey Medical School (now known as Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School), Master of Public Health from Temple University, and baccalaureate in Zoology and Physiology from Rutgers University. She completed residency training in Family Medicine at JFK Medical Center, NJ and Bayfront Medical Center, FL. She was awarded the distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Wathington’s work and scholarly efforts have centered on health equity, clinical-community linkages, maternal and child health, equitable community development, community health initiatives, and expanding diversity within the health professions. She is co-editor of Black Women in Public Health: Strategies to Name, Locate, and Change Systems of Power published by SUNY Press in February 2022. Dr. Wathington was the recipient of the DHPE Health Promotion and Advocacy award and the Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health award.