Detroit Appoints New Chief Public Health Officer

Ali Abazeed, former Dearborn public health director, to lead Detroit's health initiatives.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has appointed Ali Abazeed, the former public health director for the city of Dearborn, as Detroit's new chief public health officer. Abazeed will focus on integrating public health considerations across all city departments and initiatives, with a focus on chronic disease mitigation and reducing infant mortality rates.

Why it matters

The appointment of a chief public health officer signals Detroit's commitment to making public health a priority across all city operations, from economic development to transportation. Abazeed's experience in Dearborn implementing innovative public health programs could serve as a model for Detroit to improve health outcomes for its residents.

The details

As chief public health officer, Abazeed will partner with other city departments to embed public health principles into all municipal operations. He will also focus on reducing chronic diseases and infant mortality rates in Detroit. Abazeed previously served in public health roles at the federal level and as the founding director of public health in Dearborn, where he helped reduce drug overdoses and expand air quality monitoring.

  • On March 3, 2026, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield appointed Ali Abazeed as the city's new chief public health officer.

The players

Mary Sheffield

The mayor of Detroit who appointed Ali Abazeed as the city's new chief public health officer.

Ali Abazeed

The former public health director for the city of Dearborn who has been appointed as Detroit's new chief public health officer.

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What they’re saying

“City government touches people's lives in countless ways, which means there are countless ways we can apply public health considerations into the work every department is doing. Ali's work in Dearborn has shown the impact this can have and that's the vision he is bringing to the Detroit Health Department. We are very fortunate to have someone with his balance of national health policy and strategy building and on-the-ground community health experience to lead our work.”

— Mary Sheffield, Mayor of Detroit (cbsnews.com)

“Public health is the foundation of opportunity. When children are healthy and neighborhoods are thriving, everything else becomes possible. Under Mayor Sheffield's leadership, Detroit has an opportunity to become a national model for what bold public health can achieve. The decisions we make across every department can help Detroiters live long and healthy lives.”

— Ali Abazeed, Chief Public Health Officer, Detroit (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Abazeed is expected to begin his new role as Detroit's chief public health officer in the coming weeks, working to integrate public health considerations across all city departments and initiatives.

The takeaway

The appointment of Ali Abazeed as Detroit's new chief public health officer signals the city's commitment to making public health a priority and using a holistic, cross-departmental approach to improve health outcomes for its residents. Abazeed's experience in Dearborn could serve as a model for Detroit to become a national leader in innovative public health programming.