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Connecticut's Indian-American health chief to lead ASTHO
Juthani’s presidency comes as the nation contends with issues such as antimicrobial resistance, misinformation, and unequal healthcare access.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 23, Oct 2025
- 17:13 EDT
- 31
Manisha Juthani, the 83rd president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) / Courtesy: LinkedIn
Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, has been named the 83rd president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).
She succeeds Scott Harris of Alabama for a one-year term. Her appointment comes as public health agencies nationwide navigate recovery from the pandemic while addressing new and persistent health crises.
Juthani’s leadership will focus on strengthening public health infrastructure and improving communication to reinforce the sector’s essential role in community well-being, a release said.
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“When I assumed the role of commissioner, I quickly realized the invaluable resource that ASTHO was to state health officials,” Juthani said in response to her appointment.
“Whether it was providing up-to-date public health content, connections to federal partners, venues for colleagues to learn from each other, or resources to navigate new and old challenges, I knew I would receive more than I could ever give to this organization,” she added.
“I am humbled to be elected president by my peers and hope to lead us through a time of transition while elevating the critical role public health has played in maintaining the health and safety of all,” Juthani said in response to her appointment.
ASTHO CEO Joseph Kanter welcomed her appointment. “It’s an honor to welcome Manisha Juthani as our next president,” Kanter said, citing Juthani’s experience and commitment to health advancement.
“She has been instrumental in supporting the well-being of people in Connecticut through her leadership and is a respected member of the ASTHO Board of Directors. Juthani’s commitment to advancing health outcomes and her innovative approach to public health will be invaluable as we work to address the most pressing health challenges facing our nation,” he added.
Appointed in 2021, Juthani became Connecticut’s first Indian American health commissioner during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She guided the state’s transition from emergency response to recovery, directing efforts toward maternal health, opioid crisis management, disease prevention, and environmental health initiatives.
An infectious disease specialist by training, Juthani earned her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell.
She joined Yale School of Medicine in 2006, later serving as professor of medicine and director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program. Her federally funded research has focused on infections in older adults and antibiotic stewardship, with findings cited by major global outlets.
Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, ASTHO represents over 100,000 professionals across U.S. states, territories, and jurisdictions. The nonprofit organization advocates for public health policy and fosters collaboration to protect community health.
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