Leslie Beitsch, MD, JD, retired from full-time academic and public health practice in 2021.  He remains affiliated with Florida State University College of Medicine where he has served in several capacities since 2003, most recently as Department Chair for Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Professor of Health Policy, and Director of the Center for Medicine and Public Health.

Dr. Beitsch’s public health practice roles included tenure as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. His time in Oklahoma was preceded by a dozen years of local and state service in Florida, where he twice was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Health. He has provided guidance to public health agencies on quality improvement, performance management and measurement, and program evaluation. 

 

Dr. Beitsch serves on the Public Health Foundation (PHF) Board of Directors and is past Chair. He was awarded the PHF’s 2008 Theodore Erwin Award for his contributions.  Dr. Beitsch has been active in a number of other public health organizations including the Public Health Accreditation Board's Board of Directors, where he also served as Chair. He was also formerly Chair of the Public Health Leadership Society. He has been on a number of public health journal editorial staffs and boards.  Dr. Beitsch was the recipient of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials’ 2007 Alumni Award.

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