Dr. Mary Bassett, associate professor of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, was named New York City’s Commissioner of Health by Mayor Bill de Blasio. In addition to her faculty position, Dr. Bassett served as program director of the African Health Initiative at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, an effort that focuses on strengthening health systems in projects underway in Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.  Dr. Bassett is also a graduate of College of Physicians & Surgeons’ 79.