Robert Bruce Stroube, MD, MPH

Virginia Commissioner of Health
Virginia Department of Health
PO Box 2448
1500 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
nglasheen@vdh.state.va.us

Dr. Robert Bruce Stroube is State Health Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this capacity, he serves as the principal advisor to the Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Virginia General Assembly on a wide range of issues that affect the public's health. Last fall, Dr. Stroube led the Virginia Department of Health response to the September 11 attack on the Pentagon and later anthrax contamination of mail, which subsequently led to three cases of inhalational anthrax, all of whom survived and returned home. Dr. Stroube also leads Virginia's public health strategy to prevent human infection from West Nile Virus, which is now firmly established in all regions of our state.

Dr. Stroube held virtually every leadership position in public health at the state and local level in Virginia, including a previous stint as State Health Commissioner from 1990-1994. He led the state health department through a crucial period in the agency's history, not unlike what he faces in the current downturn in tax receipts. These state-level leadership positions include service as the Chief Deputy, State Epidemiologist, Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services where he was responsible for oversight and management of the local public health system in Virginia and as Assistant Commissioner for Health Protection and Environmental Management. At the local level, he has served as a District Health Director in Fairfax and Chesterfield counties and as Deputy Director for Prince William County.

Dr. Stroube earned an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, his master of public health from the Johns Hopkins University, and his doctor of medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Stroube is a specialist in preventive medicine as certified by the American College of Preventive Medicine.

Among many other honors and awards, Dr. Stroube is a recipient of the 2002 Brachman Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) graduating class of 2000. The award is given in honor of those who provide excellence in teaching epidemiology to EIS Officers during their training. He was also nominated as a Public Health Hero in honor of Public Service Week in Virginia 2002. Most recently, Dr. Stroube was named as a recipient of the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for 2003 by the American Medical Association. The award recognizes elected and career officials in federal, state or municipal service whose outstanding contributions have promoted the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.