Everette James was recently appointed as interim dean of Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH). James is taking the place of Donald S. Burke, who stepped down from his position on July 1.  

“I am confident that Everette will provide strong leadership for the School during this important transition period,” said Burke, who will remain on the faculty of GSPH.

James is the M. Allen Pond Professor of Health Policy and Management at GSPH, and is also director of the Pitt Health Policy Institute and associate vice chancellor for health policy and planning for the six Schools of the Health Sciences. He joined the University in 2010. 

Prior to arriving at Pitt, James had a distinguished career in health law and government, serving as the 25th Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and implementing lifesaving public health policies including the state’s first Clean Indoor Air Act and the Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention law.  He also served in the federal government as deputy assistant secretary for service industries and finance and was later a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of the LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae law firm. 

A committee to hire a permanent dean will be formed in the coming months.