Dr. Pascal James Imperato, founding dean of the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health, will be moving to the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at SUNY Downstate on September 1.  As dean emeritus, he will continue to hold the titles of founding dean and distinguished service professor.  Dr. Imperato has served as dean for nine years.  Prior to that time, he was chair of SUNY Downstate’s department of preventive medicine and community health, and director of the Master of Public Health program.  He earlier served as commissioner of health of New York City, and chair of the board of directors of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation.  Originally trained in internal medicine, he joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, and spent six years in West Africa in the smallpox eradication-measles control program.

Dr. Imperato will be succeeded by Dr. Judith H. LaRosa, vice dean, who will serve as interim dean while the search for a new dean is under way.

[Photo: Dr. Pascal James Imperato]