Philly Leader

Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson has been named the new deputy health commissioner for the Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health, which is a new position that oversees Environmental Health Services, Air Management Services, the Public Health Lab and the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, according to a release on March 24.

Raval-Nelson has been at the Health Department since 1996 beginning as a Sanitarian. She was then promoted to Sanitarian Specialist, Sanitarian Supervisor, Environmental Health program Manager, Environmental Health Program Administrator and Environmental Health Services Director. As the director she saw the division double, with 120 positions currently in five program areas. Raval-Nelson received a BS in Biology from Temple University and an MPH from MCP Hahnemann University where she graduated with the distinguished Hiega Society Award. She received her PhD in Environmental Health and Policy from Drexel University where she serves as an adjunct professor in the school of Public Health. She is also an adjunct professor at Temple.

“As an immigrant who came to the United States not knowing how to speak English, I am so humbled to have been promoted to this position,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, who was born in India, according to Drexel’s website. “Being able to work my way up through six different positions in the Health Department has given me the ability to understand how decisions made at the executive level can affect not only our staff, but also the communities in which they work and live.”

Raval-Nelson teaches courses on environmental health, occupational health and vulnerable populations and the environment, while presenting a number of papers. She has also been published in the National Journal of Environmental Health. In 2008, she published her first book, called “Breast Cancer Politics: An Evaluation of the Current Funding Policies.” She is also a graduate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said she was grateful to have her on board, saying it was particularly satisfying because of her extended time with the department.

“Dr. Raval-Nelson’s commitment to health equity and public health has been an asset in Environmental Health Services, and I am excited to see her work towards environmental justice and equity,” said Bettigole.

Currently living in Eastwick, Raval- Nelson said that she understands there are communities in Philadelphia that struggle with environmental justice issues. She hopes that she can make a difference by creating links within the city, the Health Department and the communities throughout Philadelphia in an effort to work toward equity and environmental justice.

“Looking back, I can say that being in the position of Deputy Health Commissioner for Philadelphia is my American Dream come true,” Ravel-Nelson said.