Atlanta Regional Health Forum Announces Executive Director
December 21, 2007
The Atlanta Regional Health Forum (ARHF) has formally announced the appointment of Douglas
Greenwell, Ph.D. to the position of executive director.
In 1998 an effort to bring government officials, members of the business, education and
healthcare communities and public health officials began. In September, 1999 a mission to develop a
freestanding organization that addressed the issues of community health was identified at the
Atlanta Health Summit, a meeting of more than 200 community leaders gathered at the Carter Center.
Thus, in 2000 ARHF was formed with goals of nurturing healthy communities by increasing access to
quality healthcare, framing issues and agendas for health and engaging communities to help enact
change.
"Since I was part of the initial group that created the content for ARHF, I am delighted that
this organization has named me their executive director," says Douglas Greenwell Ph.D. "I feel that
all of my prior experience has given me the tools to aid in the realization of the Atlanta Regional
Health Forum's mission."
As executive director, Greenwell will be responsible for strategic planning, program
development, fundraising efforts, maintaining the organization's relationship with the Atlanta
Regional Commission (ARC) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and he will act as the Forum's
spokesperson.
"We are extremely excited to have Doug onboard," said Jonathan Neiditz, JD, chair of the
Atlanta Regional Health Forum. "His familiarity with the communities of Atlanta gained through his
years of service will be critical to meeting our goals."
Previous to joining ARHF, Greenwell spent 10 years as director of The Atlanta Project, a
program conceived and initiated by former President Carter to improve the quality of life for
residents of Atlanta neighborhoods. He also spent several years as director of Georgia Department
of Human Resources' Division of Family and Children Services where he was responsible for the
development of a welfare to work program, one of the first 15 in the United States. Greenwell also
created and directed a community mental health center and spent a number of years with the United
States Public Health Service.
Greenwell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College, a Master's degree
from Methodist Theological School in Ohio and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University. He also
attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and completed Leadership
Atlanta.
About Atlanta Regional Health Forum:
ARHF is a nonpartisan coalition operating as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to
creating healthy local communities which ensure the highest health potential for each person within
the ten core county region of metropolitan Atlanta. The mission of the Atlanta Regional Health
Forum is to transform the health of the Atlanta region by encouraging, enabling, and empowering
communities and individuals to achieve their fullest health potential. For more information on the
Atlanta Regional Health Forum please visit our website at www.arhf.net.