Executive Director, Take Care New York New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NY
Cynthia Summers began working for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2007. She has been the Executive Director of Take Care New York, the City?s comprehensive health policy agenda, since March 2009. Previously, she was the Health Policy Research Coordinator in the Division of Finance & Planning.
Before coming to the Health Department, Dr. Summers was the Director of Public Affairs and Health Education at a small women?s health pharmaceutical company that manufactures, markets and distributes the abortion pill in the United States.
Prior to moving to New York City, Cynthia received her Doctorate degree in Public Health from the University of IL at Chicago where her research was focused on health disparities and maternal and child health. Her dissertation was an ethnographic study of pregnancy intention and reproductive decision making among African American couples.
She also has experience in substance abuse prevention, and spent 4 years in San Diego evaluating the Drug Court system, and working with Mexican and U.S. government agencies and community organizations to reduce cross-border binge drinking among adolescents.
Publications:
Summers, C., Cohen, L, Havusha, A., Sliger, F., Farley, T. Take Care New York: A Policy for a Healthier New York City. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2009.
Fullop, M., Summers, C., and O?Neil, M. (2003). The potential of telementoring to enhance preservice education in the health disciplines. The Health Education Monograph, 20(1): 41-46.
Summers, C. (2002). The National Mentoring Program in Public Health (NMP): A Way to Give Back. The Nation?s Health, November.
Summers, C. (2001, Summer). National mentoring program in public health. The Link, 15(2). Retrieved January 2010 from http://www.phf.org/link/thelink/vol15n2/mentoring.pdf.
Summers, C. (2001). Dual Diagnosis: Best Practices. In Dual Diagnosis Strategic Plan, Eds. M. Refowitz, A. Aguirre and A. Medina, pp. 31-35. San Diego, CA, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
