ASU assistant professor recognized as public health leader by prominent community foundation

A leading nonprofit public health organization has named College of Health Solutions Assistant Professor Mac McCullough a 40 Under 40 Public Health Leader for 2019.

The de Beaumont Foundation annually recognizes public health professionals under the age of 40 who both improve the health of their communities and advance the field of public health. Founded in 1998 by inventor and philanthropist Pierre de Beaumont, the organization invests in innovative programs that create healthier communities nationwide. 

McCullough researches public health and social services spending, analyzing and quantifying its effect on population health. In a recent study for AcademyHealth and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), for example, he found that $10 in public health spending can reduce infectious disease by 7% and premature death by 1.5% in the general population. 

In addition to research and teaching, McCullough serves as deputy director of the National Safety Net Advancement Center, an RWJF-funded initiative located within the College of Health Solutions. The center works with public health safety net organizations such as Medicaid to research and implement more effective payment and delivery methods for a wide range of public health services, including oral health care and addiction intervention. 

McCullough is also a health economist for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

“This prestigious award reflects the tremendous contributions Dr. McCullough has made toward improving population health through translational research,” said William Riley, a College of Health Solutions professor and director of the National Safety Net Advancement Center. “We are very fortunate to have a person of his stature and accomplishment in the science of health care delivery program.”