The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities made the appointment on Monday.

 

As acting director, Dr. Maddox will oversee the budget of approximately $268 million. Additionally, she will provide leadership for the minority health and health disparities research activities of NIH, which constitutes an annual budget of approximately $2.8 billion.

 

“I commend Dr. Ruffin for his years of service to the NIH and the community that is so in need of the research supported by NIMHD,” said Dr. Maddox of her appointment. “I am looking forward to working with NIMHD staff and my other colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services to continue to advance the programs of the institute. In addition, I look forward to listening and working with the many stakeholders to assess and identify the needs of the various populations that we serve.”

 

Prior to joining NIMHD, Dr. Maddox served as the deputy director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, advising the director on matters regarding the institute’s budget and programs that support research on child development, developmental biology, nutrition, AIDS/HIV, intellectual and developmental disabilities, population issues, reproductive biology, contraception, pregnancy, and medical rehabilitation. Dr. Maddox has also served as the acting deputy director of the National Institutes of Health from January 2000–June 2002 and co-chaired the first NIH Strategic Plan to Reduce and Ultimately Eliminate Health Disparities.

 

As a cardiovascular physiologist, Dr. Maddox has served in several scientific roles at NIH and has authored numerous scientific papers and review articles and delivered keynote scientific lectures domestically and internationally. She has received many honors and awards, including the Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award, Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award, HHS Career Achievement Award, Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, HHS Secretary's Award, NIH Director’s Award, National Down Syndrome Society Champion of Change Award, and Research Down Syndrome Foundation Light the Way Award. Her scientific work has been recognized by Morehouse School of Medicine with a HeLa Leadership Award for Excellence in Reproductive Medicine.