Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, Los Angeles County Public Health Department
Dr. Plough joined the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in January, 2009. As Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, he is responsible for the leadership and management of the public health preparedness activities which protect the 11 million residents of Los Angeles County from natural disasters and threats related to emerging infections and bioterrorist events. Dr. Plough coordinates activities in emergency operations, infectious disease control, risk communication, planning, and community engagement. He also continues his appointment as Professor of Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Seattle.
Prior to his appointment with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Dr. Plough served from 2005-2009 as Vice President of Strategy, Planning, and Evaluation for The California Endowment. In this position, he was responsible for the leadership, management and overall direction of The Endowment’s strategic planning and development, evaluation, research, and organizational learning.
Dr. Plough’s other work includes serving 10 years as Director and Health Officer for the Seattle and King County Department of Public Health, one of the foremost metropolitan health departments in the nation. He also served for seven years as Director of Public Health for the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals. During his many years in Boston, Dr. Plough held academic appointments at Harvard University School of Public Health, Tufts University Department of Community Medicine, and Boston University School of Management.
Dr. Plough’s distinguished career includes many awards recognizing exemplary public service and leadership, service on numerous boards of directors of nonprofit organizations, an extensive body of scholarly publications and book chapters, and extensive engagement in the media through opinion articles and television appearances on public health issues ranging from bioterrorism to community empowerment.