Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney has been named the next president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, a national organization that works to strengthen public health systems across the country.
The appointment places a Mississippi health official in a leadership role as rural communities, including those in the Mississippi Delta, continue to face challenges involving access to health care, maternal health and chronic disease prevention.
Edney will serve as the organization’s 84th president, succeeding Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Edney has served as Mississippi’s state health officer since August 2022. He joined the Mississippi State Department of Health in 2021 as its first chief medical officer before serving as deputy state health officer.
The organization said Edney plans to focus his presidency on maternal and infant health, rural health and promoting the work of state and territorial health agencies.
Those priorities are particularly relevant to the Mississippi Delta, where rural communities face ongoing public health concerns and access to health services remains an important issue.
Before joining the state health department, Edney practiced internal medicine in Vicksburg for more than three decades. He is board-certified in internal medicine and specializes in addiction medicine.
Since 2013, Edney has focused on treating substance use disorders and supporting recovery efforts throughout Mississippi. He also previously served as president of the Mississippi State Medical Association.
Edney earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at the University of Virginia. He earned his undergraduate degree from William Carey University.
In a statement, Edney said collaboration, innovation and partnerships among public health leaders would be important to addressing the nation’s health challenges.
Dr. Puthiery Va, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, will serve as the organization’s president-elect.
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials represents public health agencies across the United States and its territories.
