Fine Named NIOSH Acting Director; Rest, Porter Named Deputy Directors

October 5, 2000
Contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)
Fred Blosser, Media Relations (202)401-3749

Dr. Lawrence J. Fine today was named Acting Director of the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), effective November 1, 2000. Dr. Fine currently is Director of NIOSH's Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies.

The announcement was made by Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Fine will begin serving as Acting NIOSH director on November 1st, when Linda Rosenstock, M.D., M.P.H., will assume a new position as Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Koplan also announced the appointments of two new permanent Deputy Directors for NIOSH.

"Dr. Fine has published extensively in the field of occupational health and is a member of many professional organizations," Dr. Koplan stated in announcing the appointment of Dr. Fine as NIOSH Acting Director. "He is board-certified in internal medicine and preventive occupational medicine. I look forward to working with Dr. Fine as he provides leadership for NIOSH in the coming months."

Dr. Fine received his M.D. Degree in 1970 from the University of Illinois School of Medicine and his Masters of Public Health in Occupational Medicine and his Doctorate of Public Health in Occupational Medicine, in 1972 and 1975, respectively, from the Harvard University School of Public Health.

Dr. Koplan also announced the selections of Diane D. Porter to serve as the NIOSH Deputy Director for Management, and Dr. Kathleen Rest to serve as the NIOSH Deputy Director for Program. They succeed Bryan D. Hardin, who retired this year.

Ms. Porter joined NIOSH in 1981 and served most recently as Associate Director for Management with responsibilities for planning, management, budget, personnel, and labor-management partnerships.

"Ms. Porter has had a long and distinguished career with NIOSH," Dr. Koplan said. "Her extraordinary commitment to occupational safety and health will be a great asset to the Institute as she assumes the position of NIOSH's first Deputy Director for Management".

Dr. Rest joined NIOSH one year ago as a Senior Advisor to the Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation. Dr. Rest graduated from Boston University where she received a Ph.D. in Health Policy. She is former Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

"Dr. Rest's broad knowledge of the field of occupational safety and health, her leadership skills, dedication to the work of NIOSH, and exceptional national and international reputation will be a great asset to the Institute as she assumes the position of NIOSH's first Deputy Director for Program," Dr. Koplan said.

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