Thomas Burke Named Jacob I and Irene B. Fabrikant Professor in Health, Risk and Society

Thomas Burke, PhD, MPH, associate dean for Public Health Practice and Training, has been named the Jacob I and Irene B. Fabrikant Professor and Chair in Health, Risk and Society. Dr. Irene Fabrikant, a distinguished teacher and researcher in the pathogenesis and prevention of infectious disease, established the professorship in 2000 in memory of her husband, Jacob, who was a pioneer in environmental radiology and a faculty member here and at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“Tom has made tremendous contributions to the School and society and is the perfect person to hold this professorship,” said Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Burke joined the School’s faculty in 1990. In addition to his duties as associate dean, he is a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. Burke also directs the Johns Hopkins Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute. Before coming to Johns Hopkins, Burke served as Deputy Commissioner of Health for the State of New Jersey and Director of Science and Research for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. His work in New Jersey helped influence the development of national programs such as Superfund and the Safe Drinking Water Act. He received his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and his MPH degree from the University of Texas.