AMA names Denise Fair Razo to lead Center for Optimal Health Outcomes

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced Denise Fair Razo, MBA, MPH as group vice president to lead its Center for Optimal Health Outcomes. Under Fair Razo's leadership, the center will develop and expand on data-driven solutions that improve health outcomes and build a healthier future for all. She will assume the new role on August 3.

Fair Razo brings to the AMA more than two decades of executive leadership experience spanning large-scale ambulatory care and healthcare organizations, public health and community partnerships. Most recently, she served as chief public health officer and chief operating officer of the City of Detroit Health Department, where she strengthened public health infrastructure and oversaw more than 40 programs spanning maternal and child health, immunizations, community health services, behavioral health, and environmental health.

"Denise has spent her career helping communities identify their greatest health needs and develop practical solutions to address them," said AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH. "By launching Detroit's first public health data dashboard and expanding data-sharing partnerships, she helped communities use local data to guide decisions and shape programs that improve people's health. Her leadership and experience will further strengthen the Center for Optimal Health Outcomes as it develops practical solutions that improve care and advance health across communities."

Among her accomplishments, Fair Razo led Detroit's first Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, tripling community participation and creating a framework to better understand community health needs and guide future priorities. She also developed Detroit's "Rides to Care" program, which provided more than 20,000 free, round-trip transportation to non-emergency medical appointments for pregnant women, new mothers and caregivers of infants in its first year. In addition, she developed programs that expanded access to naloxone and other harm-reduction resources through a citywide network of wellness stations.

During her tenure at the City of Detroit Health Department, Fair Razo secured more than $350 million in state and federal funding to modernize public health infrastructure while leading the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding access to testing and vaccinations through trusted community outreach. Previously, she served in executive leadership roles at Henry Ford Health and Trinity Health, where she oversaw ambulatory operations, physician network management, and systemwide initiatives to improve patient care.

"Every community has unique strengths, challenges, and experiences that shape the way we approach health," Fair Razo said. "The work ahead is about pairing research and data with the lived experiences of patients, families and communities so the solutions we develop are grounded in real-world needs of the people we serve. Meaningful change and impact happen when we listen with intention, earn trust, and work together. I am honored to join the AMA and look forward to contributing to the center's next chapter."

The AMA Center for Optimal Health Outcomes brings together physicians, health systems, researchers, policymakers and community organizations to advance evidence-based solutions that address the nation's most pressing health challenges.