Dr. Mary Bassett is an America-based doctor who has also remained a professor and public health officer. She has been the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from 2014-2018. She has also served as being the director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. Along with being a director, she has remained an important part of the department by being the professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. She has also served as being an associate officer of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Early Life
Dr. Mary Bassett was born either in 1968 or 1969 and brought up in New York City. She went to Harvard University to attain her education and get herself a degree in B.A in history and science. Mary received her degree in 1974 and completed her M.D. in 1979 and received the same from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1985, she received her MPH degree in Health Services from the University of Washington. Also, she has completed her medicinal residency at Harlem Hospital Center.
Dr. Mary Bassett Career
Bassett used to live in Zimbabwe and served as the part of medical faculty of the University of Zimbabwe from 1985 to 2002. Later, she was being appointed as the deputy commissioner of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2002. In 2009, she got herself appointed as a program director for Doris Duke Charitable Foundation that was further based on African Health Initiative. In January 2014, she was appointed as health commissioner of New York City. She helped the city to respond against the Ebola virus cases in the United States which were one of the highest positions or designation of her career. She also helped the people of New York to address the outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease.
Media
In November 2015, Dr. Mary Bassett gave an important Tedmed talk based on the topic: “Why your doctor should care about social justice.” In the talk, she spoke about the AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe where she was motivated to witness the setting up of a clinic to help people, educate them, and treat them with the virus. She said that she regrets not speaking about the structural inequities that were there in Zimbabwe during her time. Mary said that the same structural issue exists in the United States also. She further added that as the city’s health commissioner, she would use every opportunity to support health equity and stood against the racism that existed somewhere in all of us.
In October 2016, Bassett was honored with Frank A. Calderone Prize. The prize was given by the Mailman School of Public Health. It was first put forth in 1986 and is said to be the most prestigious award in the field of public health. In 2017, Bassett participated in the elections of becoming a member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2018, she succeeded in becoming the New York City commissioner by Oxiris Barbot.
Dr. Mary Bassett Biography |
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| Real Name | Mary T. Bassett |
| Birth Date | 1952/1953 |
| Age (as of 2021) | 68/69 Years |
| Birth Place | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Commissioner of the Department of Health |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun sign | Not Known |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 6” – in Centimeters – 168 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 64 kg – in Pounds – 141 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Body Type | Slim |
Family |
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| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Qualification/Education |
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| School | – |
| College | Harvard University, Columbia University, University of Washington |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Single |
| Who is her husband? | – |
| Children | – |
Commissioner of the state department of health
On Wednesday, i.e., on 29th September 2021, Dr. Mary T. Bassett was declared to be the next commissioner of the state department of health. The news was affirmed by Governor Kathy Hochul while saying that she would be making her next official in New York City leading the city to respond against the COVID-19 pandemic. Bassett was previously held as the commissioner of the health department in New York City but left a few years back. She will be the first black person to attain the role and in her statement, she said that she will help the city to place a special focus on inequities making the health facilities to be reliable, affordable, and accessible for all.
Bassett said that the pandemic has underscored the value of public health and also laid importance on the structural racism being driven by the inequities. She said that as soon as we move towards the end of the pandemic, we will drive a unique opportunity for all people of New York who will all be treated equitably in the health issues. Earlier, Bassett was commissioned at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene while being the head of the department. She has also worked for around 17 years at the University of Zimbabwe. Bassett has been confirmed as being at this new position who can serve as acting as commissioner until that time. Her new position will be effective from 1st December.
Personal Life
There are no reports available regarding her private life so she is probably single and hasn’t married yet. Although it could be possible that she might have married in the past but due to privacy, she didn’t disclose it in the public media. Also, no names are reported regarding her past life that we can link with her as well.
Dr. Mary Bassett Net worth
Being a doctor, she is definitely making quite a huge out of her profession and also gaining respect as well. She has been in this profession since so long but we don’t have any numbers available that can state her exact fortune of worth.