Reed Tuckson

Reed V. Tuckson is an American physician and public health advocate known for his leadership in health policy, health equity, and public communication. He has held prominent roles in government and healthcare organizations, contributing to national health initiatives and efforts to counter misinformation.

Reed V. Tuckson
Born	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Howard University (B.S.) Georgetown University School of Medicine (M.D.) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Executive fellowship)
Occupation(s)	Physician, public health advocate, health policy leader
Years active	1980s–present
Employer(s)	Tuckson Health Connections, LLC
Known for	Health equity advocacy Public health leadership Telehealth innovation Combating health misinformation
Notable work	"The Disease of Distrust" (2020, Science)
Title	Founder and Managing Director
Board member of	National Academy of Medicine Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society
Awards	Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award (2025) Modern Healthcare – 50 Most Influential Physician Executives

Early life

A native of Washington, D.C., Tuckson was born in the early 1950s into a family with strong ties to medicine and public service. His father, Dr. Coleman Tuckson, was a dentist who helped establish the Howard University College of Dentistry. His mother, Evelyn Tuckson, was a visiting nurse focused on maternal and infant care during national campaigns to reduce infant mortality.

Education

Tuckson earned a B.S. from Howard University in 1973 and an M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1978. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and also worked at a local Veterans Affairs hospital, which influenced his emphasis on preventive care.

He hosted a radio program for African-American audiences and launched a sickle-cell support group. These activities led to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars fellowship, during which he studied health policy and administration at the Wharton School and served as a nursing home medical director.

Career and advocacy

Tuckson has held leadership positions in several national health organizations. He served as Senior Vice President for Professional Standards at the American Medical Association, and Senior Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs at UnitedHealth Group.

He has advocated for health equity, medical ethics, and emerging technologies in medicine, including precision medicine and telehealth. Tuckson has participated in initiatives to reduce racial disparities in healthcare in the United States and was a co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID.

He has also worked with organizations such as The Hastings Center, the March of Dimes, and the Alliance for Health Policy. Tuckson is a fellow of the National Academy of Medicine and has testified before Congress on public health issues.

Leadership roles

Tuckson is currently founder and managing director of Tuckson Health Connections. Previous leadership roles include:

• Executive Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs, UnitedHealth Group (2006–2015)
• Senior Vice President, Consumer Health and Medical Care Advancement, UnitedHealth Group (2000–2006)
• Group Vice President for Professional Standards, American Medical Association
• President, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (1991–1997)
• Senior Vice President for Programs, March of Dimes (1990–1991)
• Commissioner of Public Health, District of Columbia (1986–1990)

He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and chaired its Quality Chasm Summit. He has served on multiple federal advisory committees addressing topics such as genetics, health disparities, infant mortality, healthcare reform, and research ethics.

Advisory service and congressional testimony

In April 1997, Tuckson testified before the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, advocating for increased support of historically Black health institutions.

In March 1995, he testified before the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources in support of health professions education and minority-serving institutions.

He also served on the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, established by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Telehealth and innovation

In 2016, Tuckson served as president of the American Telemedicine Association, advocating for broader integration of telehealth. In 2017, he co-authored a New England Journal of Medicine article outlining its potential to expand access and improve outcomes.

Media and public speaking

Tuckson has been a frequent speaker on public health topics:

• C-SPAN – Panelist and interviewee on public health policy and ethics.
• Society for Public Health Education (2025) – Keynote on communication in crisis.
• Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (2025) – Closing plenary on trust in science.
• Brown University (2024) – Dean’s Conversation on health misinformation.
• PBS Amanpour & Company (2021) – Commentary on CDC guidance during the Delta variant surge.

News coverage

• The Washington Post – “New D.C. Health Chief Named as Tuckson Officially Resigns” (January 9, 1990) – Announcement of leadership transition.

• The Washington Post – “D.C. Seeks Way to Provide Health Care for Uninsured” (September 24, 1989) – Report on city strategies to serve vulnerable populations.

• CNN – “COVID-19 Racial Disparities Highlighted” (April 8, 2022), featuring his commentary on pandemic inequities.

• CNN – “Delta Surge and Black Communities” (August 8, 2021), quoting his insights on vaccine access in Black communities.

• The Brown Daily Herald – “Reed Tuckson discusses career, public-health threats at SPH Black History Month event” (February 27, 2024), covering his lecture and reflections.

Awards and recognition

• Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award (2025) – Presented by the CDC Foundation and the Fries Foundation for contributions to health education and telehealth.
• Modern Healthcare’s "50 Most Influential Physician Executives" – Named in multiple years, including 2012 and 2013.

Legacy and impact

Tuckson’s leadership in public health spans four decades. As D.C. Commissioner of Public Health in the 1980s, he helped coordinate responses to HIV/AIDS and expanded care for underserved populations.

At Charles R. Drew University, he advanced training for health professionals in disadvantaged communities. Through Tuckson Health Connections and the Black Coalition Against COVID, he continues to support public health messaging and health equity.

Publications

• Tuckson, Reed V. (2020). "The disease of distrust". Science. 370 (6518): 745. doi:10.1126/science.abf6109.
• Edmunds, Michelle; Tuckson, Reed V.; Hodgkins, Michael L. (2017). "Telehealth". New England Journal of Medicine. 377 (16): 1585–1592. doi:10.1056/NEJMsr1503323.

See also

• Opioid epidemic in the United States
• Addiction medicine
• Health disparities in the United States