Washington, DC, July 26, 2024 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of over 3,300 local health departments across the country, awarded public health professional Hugh Tilson, MD, DrPH, FACPM with the Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award. Dr. Tilson received the award at the 2024 NACCHO360 annual conference in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 2024.
NACCHO’s Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award honors local health officials for noteworthy service that reflects Mullet’s commitment, vigor, and leadership. Mo Mullet was a NACCHO board member for three years, vice president for four years, and president from 1992 to 1994. During his career, Mullet achieved statewide and national recognition as a leader among local health officials and in the field of public health. Those nominated for the award must demonstrate leadership among local health departments, characterized by energetic volunteer service to NACCHO and significant contributions to the field of local public health practice.
“This award is, of course, for all of you, whose sustained efforts make local public health in America the great success story it has become and who make NACCHO the strong national presence which the nation needs to protect and advance our public health system,” said Dr. Hugh Tilson.
Dr. Hugh Tilson has spent 15 years each in public service and the multinational pharmaceutical industry, over 25 years in academia, and he continues as an active consultant and public health volunteer, educator, and advocate.
As Multnomah County (OR) Health Officer and Human Services Director, he achieved national recognition as an advocate for the role of local public health in health care delivery and oversaw the national model program for managed competition, “Project Health.” From 1976 to 1978, he served as NACCHO’s Vice President and then President before being named North Carolina State Health Officer. Recognized as a public health systems and workforce researcher, he has served on several national and international studies and advisory boards and recently retired after 10 years as a member of the national Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
Dr. Tilson served on the original IOM Study Committee for “The Future of Public Health” (1988) and continues to contribute to the National Academies as a frequent report review coordinator. He is a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies of Science. In Maine, he is credited for creating the Sagadahoc County Board of Health, the state’s first County Board, which claims him as an emeritus member. He is also a charter member of NACCHO’s Past Presidents’ Council and ASTHO’s Alumni Society, where he continues to serve.
Board-certified in Preventive Medicine, he has served as Vice-Chair of the American Board of Preventive Medicine and President of the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). He is credited for introducing the public health approach and ethic to pharmaceutical medicine, having spent 15 years as an executive in the multinational pharmaceutical industry and serving as Founding Co-President of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology.
Dr. Tilson is the author of over 250 published papers and book chapters, as well as seminal texts in Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management.
He and his wife, Judy, retired to Carolina Meadows, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Chapel Hill, NC, where he was recently elected to the Governing Board of Directors. In retirement, Dr. Tilson continues his professional work as a consultant in pharmacoepidemiology and engages in volunteer public health service within his community, in Chatham County, through national professional organizations, and as an adjunct on several academic faculties.
“Dr. Tilson’s contributions to public health have set the bar high for excellence, and we are honored to present him with the 2024 Maurice “Mo” Mullet Lifetime of Service Award,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, NACCHO CEO. “From his leadership on the ‘The Future of Public Health’ to his foundational work in creating Maine’s first county board of health, Dr. Tilson has consistently demonstrated a visionary approach to improving public health. Dr. Tilson’s unwavering commitment to public service and education, even in retirement, will continue to inspire the next generation of public health professionals. We are proud to recognize his extraordinary legacy.”
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
