Jeff Howard, MD, MPH
On May 3, 2022, Mayor Fischer appointed Dr. Jeff Howard, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness medical director, as the city’s interim director and chief health strategist.
Before coming to the Department of Public Health and Wellness, Dr. Howard was appointed as a White House Fellow in 2019 where he served as a health policy advisor to the Vice President of the United States. He has also served as the Commissioner for Public Health and Chief Medical Officer of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As Commissioner, he managed the state’s public health system including approximately 2,500 employees and a $500 million budget. He also advised on healthcare policy matters. During his tenure, his primary focus was the opioid crisis, adverse childhood events, and leading public health transformation that brings long-term financial solvency to the public health system and emphasizes locally determined health priorities.
Dr. Howard earned a B.S. in Biology at Union College and a medical degree at the University of Louisville. He also holds an MBA from Northern Kentucky University and an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His awards include Louisville Business First’s Forty Under 40, Louisville Business First’s 20 Young Leaders of Louisville, de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Leaders Under 40 in Public Health in the U.S., and Kentucky Public Health Association President’s Award for meritorious service to Kentucky’s public health.
Dr. Howard and his wife, Dr. Brandy Howard, reside in Louisville with their two children, Jeffrey and Katherine. To read his full bio click here.
