Biography - Christopher G. Atchison
Christopher G. Atchison is the Director of the Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, the state’s designated public health laboratory. In addition, Mr. Atchison is the Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Clinical Professor in Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health. He is also the Director of the Institute for Public Health Practice and teaches the College's introduction to public health course.
Prior to joining the University, Mr. Atchison served for eight years as Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health (1991-1999). During his tenure, Mr. Atchison chaired the Iowa Child Health Insurance Program (HAWK-I) Board, the Iowa Health Data Commission and the Governor’s Task Force on Regulatory Reform. He was vice-chair of Healthy Iowans 2010, the Long Term Care Coordinating Council and was a member of the Governor’s Health Care Reform Task Force and the Iowa Empowerment Board.
At the national level, Mr. Atchison served as President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) during the years 1994 and 1995 and was chair of the Joint Council of Official Health Agencies. In 1998 he received ASTHO's Arthur T. McCormack Award for his contributions to public health practice.