Alonzo L. Plough
VP, Research-Evaluation-Learning and Chief Science Officer
Alonzo Plough joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Research-Evaluation-Learning unit in January 2014. He is responsible for aligning all of the Foundation’s work with the best evidence from research and practice and incorporating program evaluations into organizational learning. He also oversees the two grantmaking portfolios focused on innovation and emerging issues: Pioneer and Global Ideas for U.S. solutions.
Alonzo has been a national leader in public health practice for over 25 years. He came to the Foundation from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where he served as director of emergency preparedness and response from 2009–2013. In that role, he was responsible for the leadership and management of activities protecting the 10 million residents of Los Angeles County from natural disasters and threats related to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. He coordinated activities in emergency operations, infectious disease control, risk communication, planning, and community engagement.
Prior to this position, Alonzo served as vice president of strategy, planning and evaluation for The California Endowment from 2005–2009. Before this, he served 10 years as director and health officer for the Seattle and King County Department of Public Health and previously served as director of public health in Boston for eight years.
Alonzo earned his PhD and MA at Cornell University, and his MPH at Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health. He has held academic appointments at Harvard University School of Public Health, Tufts University Department of Community Medicine, and Boston University School of Management. He is currently clinical professor of health services at the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle. He has been the recipient of numerous awards for public service and leadership and is the author of an extensive body of scholarly articles, books, and book chapters.
Alonzo lives in Princeton and Los Angeles, and is married with two adult sons and two granddaughters. He is a jazz guitarist and vocalist.
Connect with Alonzo
What is the Relationship between Race, Racism, and Public Health Data?
Alonzo Plough spoke with Gail Christopher, director of RWJF’s Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems, about the critical role of public health data in understanding and confronting racism.
Equity in Action: Transforming Health Science Knowledge Systems
During the Salzburg Global Seminar, Alonzo Plough highlighted the long-standing dominance of biomedical approaches in health science. He pointed out that while this focus has driven significant scientific advancements, it has also perpetuated systemic inequalities and marginalized other forms of knowledge.
Transforming Academia for Equity
In this episode of In the Margins, Alonzo Plough, RWJF’s chief science officer and vice president of Research-Evaluation-Learning, discusses the importance of diverse leadership in academia and developing the next generation of equity-focused leaders.
Blog Posts by Alonzo
Research Shows How Reparations Are a Prescription for Black Progress
5-min read
How Reparations Could Improve Black Health and Wellbeing
5-min read
How Can We Further Progress on Disability Rights?
7-min read