PHILADELPHIA—In September 2021, the Health Department hired Frank A. Franklin, PhD, JD, MPH as Deputy Commissioner of Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. This position had been open since the resignation of Dr. Caroline Johnson in January of that year.

“Dr. Franklin has been an exceptional asset to the Health Department,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “During one of the most difficult times in the history of the Health Department, Dr. Franklin has made sure that critical public health activities have continued, while simultaneously kicking off exciting new efforts to help deepen and expand the
department’s activities.”

“I cannot begin to express my excitement at the opportunity to give back to the city that raised me,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Frank Franklin. “I look forward to strengthening the Health Department’s capacity to not only fulfill the existing core functions of the department, but also starting to take advantage of expertise spread throughout the department so that we can better serve the public.”

Previously, Dr. Franklin served as the Director of Epidemiology, Analytics and Evaluation Division at the Multnomah County Health Department

Dr. Franklin received his doctoral training at The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg of School of Public Health. He earned a master’s in public health and completed post-doctoral training in health policy from the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Franklin also holds a Juris Doctor from the Kline School of Law at Drexel University. He is a member of the National Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Injury Control and Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A headshot and brief biographical sketch are provided on the Health Department’s Staff webpage. Dr. Franklin is available for interview upon request.