Leslie Best Email and Phone Number

Since retiring, I have provided public health consultation to Geisinger Health System; Brown School of Public Health, Washington University, St. Louis; Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania; Alliance of Pennsylvania Councils; Mississippi Department of Health; National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Since 2019, I lead work at NACDD to develop the Healthy Aging website and the CDC-funded project Integration of Alzheimer's Messages into Chronic Disease Program and developed a diverse portfolio of dementia risk reduction resources, including a Communications Guide for Public Health Professionals. I particpated in the Caregiving workgroup that contributed to the revised Healthy Brain Roadmap for State Health Departments, and serve on the Executive Committees of the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction and the International Association for Indigenous Aging. I served as the lead Senior Public Health Advisor to NACDD for a CDC funded project to develop a National Public Health Agenda for Lupus. I served as the NACDD Senior Public Health Consultant to the American College of Rheumatology and its CDC funded project Developing and Disseminating Programs to Build Sustainable Lupus Awareness, Knowledge, Skills and Partnerships, and developed a School Health Nurse Lupus Training Program. For 10 years I served as the NACDD Senior Public Health Advisory for a CDC funded project focused on Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan, which in past years focused on early adulthood and adults over age 65. Current work is focused on cancer prevention across the lifespan, focused on persons with ACEs, American Indian/Alaska Native persons, Latinos and a toolkit for state health departments to address environmental carcinogens.

As the state's Chronic Disease Director, I directed the planning, implementation and evaluation of statewide health promotion and chronic disease risk reduction programs for the Divisions of Health Risk Reduction, Cancer Prevention and Control, Nutrition and Physical Activity and Tobacco Prevention and Control. Provided oversight for over 60 staff and an annual budget in excess of $40 million.

Directed statewide programs to prevent chronic disease and injury; grant preparation and administration; budget planning and management; supervision of 7 staff.

Directed statewide programs to improve the quantity and distribution of primary care practitioners in underserved areas; managed the state loan repayment program in coordination with the HRSA Region III office; oversight of contacts and grants for AHEC, Office of Rural Health and community health improvement partners.

Supervision of 4 regional offices responsible for the statewide licensure of about 1200 personal care homes for the elderly, mentally and physically disabled. Administration of licensure sanctions, collaboration with legal counsel and court appearances.

Division of Personal Care Home LicensingSupervision of all licensing activities in a 24 county area

Division of Personal Care Home LicensingInspection, monitoring, complaint investigations and licensure of personal care homes.

Provided direct patient care in secure wards, long-term care and admissions.