Staff Bio
Leonard Jack, Jr, PhD, MSc
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Dr. Jack is Editor-in-Chief of Preventing Chronic Disease, a peer-reviewed public health journal sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and authored by experts worldwide.
Role at CDC
Dr. Jack is Editor-in-Chief of Preventing Chronic Disease, a journal of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), a position he has held since October 2016.
Previous experience
Previously, Dr. Jack was director of NCCDPHP's Division of Community Health (2013–2016). Before returning to CDC, from 2009 to 2012, he served as associate dean for research; director of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education; the endowed chair of Minority Health and Health Disparities Research; professor in the Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy; and professor and founding chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Dr. Jack held the Jim Finks Endowed Chair of Health Promotion and was professor of behavioral and community health sciences at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center's School of Public Health (2007–2009). Before that, he served as lead of the Applied Behavioral Research, Epidemiology, and Systems Team and chief of the Community Intervention Section in NCCDPHP's Division of Diabetes Translation (2000–2006). He currently holds an adjunct appointment as professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Education
Dr. Jack completed his MSc and PhD in behavioral sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions in advancing the discipline of behavioral health, behavioral science, health education, and health promotion. In 2011, he received the Society for Public Health Education’s (SOPHE’s) Distinguished Fellow Award, the society’s highest award recognizing people who have made significant and lasting contributions to SOPHE, the profession of health education, and public health. In June 2022, NCCDPHP awarded Dr Jack its highest honor, the Jeffery P. Koplan Award, which recognizes the extraordinary and sustained accomplishments of a person who has contributed to achieving NCCDPHP’s mission and has shown exemplary professional practice and leadership. Dr. Jack, in May 2023, received the Council of Science Editors’ (CSE’s) Distinguished Service Award for his contributions in advancing scientific communication and advancing the mission and vision of CSE.