The Leadership Style of "The People's Doctor": A Contemporary Look Back at New York State Commissioner of Health David Axelrod, MD.

Abstract

David Axelrod, MD, New York State's commissioner of health from 1979 to 1991, had a panoramic view of public health and a legendary track record of tackling complex issues ranging from the Love Canal environmental disaster to HIV/AIDS and end-of-life ethics. Many raved about Axelrod's leadership, whereas others criticized his response and style. Two decades later, we describe his leadership attributes. Our retrospective review incorporates interviews with former staff and coworkers and information from historical archives. Axelrod's leadership style mirrored that of business leaders, goal driven and focused on execution, as opposed to the typical style of public health leaders, more sympathetic to needs of the team. He framed his mission within the context of social justice and data-driven science. His story, one in which leadership inspired passion and loyalty to science, is driven by a laser-sharp focus on the public good. In today's resource-deprived, politically charged environment, Axelrod's methods for achieving positive community health outcomes warrant close scrutiny. (Am J Public Health. 2019;109:85-91. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304710).