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Susan Mansukhlal Kansagra

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences
Box 104023, Durham, NC 27708
215 Morris Street, Durham, NC 27701

Overview


Susan Kansagra, MD, MBA serves as North Carolina's State Health Officer and NCDHHS' Assistant Secretary for Public Health. In this role, she leads the NC Division of Public Health and provides leadership and oversight of policies and programs that promote the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians.  Dr. Kansagra has worked on numerous public health issues over the last several years.  She helped lead NC’s COVID-19 pandemic response efforts and was the driving force behind the development of NC’s first Opioid Action Plan. 

Her previous roles include serving as Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Health Department, where she led nationally-recognized public health policies and programs aimed at reducing chronic disease, as well as, Asst Vice President of Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals, where she led clinical quality improvement initiatives for the country’s largest public healthcare system.

She is an appointed member of the CDC Community Preventive Services Task Force and served as Board President of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. She is the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence for Outstanding State Service. She completed her undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, her graduate degrees at Duke University, and her medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Areas of Expertise: Public Health, Health Policy, Health Behavior, and Epidemiology

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences · 2019 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published November 14, 2022
Get the Facts on Diabetes, Prevention, Management and Impacts of COVID-19: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall
Published September 17, 2022
State health officials encourage doubling up on COVID-19 booster and flu shot
Published May 3, 2022
https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2022/05/03/health-officials-encourage-north-carolinians-covid-19-seek-treatment-right-away

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Recent Publications


The Opioid Epidemic in NC: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Journal Article N C Med J · 2018 Like many states, North Carolina faces an opioid crisis that has rapidly intensified in recent years. Addressing this epidemic requires interventions such as judicious prescribing of opioids, community based prevention efforts, broader naloxone distributio ... Full text Link to item Cite

One cigarette is one too many: evaluating a light smoker-targeted media campaign.

Journal Article Tob Control · July 2015 BACKGROUND: Light smokers represent an increasing share of adult smokers in various parts of the world including New York City (NYC). Since 2007, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has aired hard-hitting antitobacco media campaigns paired with ... Full text Link to item Cite

Reducing sugary drink consumption: New York City's approach.

Journal Article Am J Public Health · April 2015 Studies have linked the consumption of sugary drinks to weight gain, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Since 2006, New York City has taken several actions to reduce consumption. Nutrition standards limited sugary drinks served by city agencies. Mass media camp ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 2004 M.B.A.
Duke University, School of Medicine · 2004 M.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2000 B.S.