Dearborn health leader Abazeed joins Sheffield administration

Abazeed, the founding director of Dearborn's public health department, has joined Mayor Sheffield's administration to help integrate health into city policies, with attention to chronic disease, lead poisoning, asthma and maternal and infant health.

Abazeed has joined Mayor Sheffield's administration to lead efforts to bring health considerations into citywide policy and programs. The mayor has expressed an interest in approaches that address chronic disease, lead poisoning, asthma, and maternal and infant health. The city's health department provides immunizations, restaurant inspections, programs to reduce childhood lead poisoning, youth services and other public health functions. Abazeed was the founding director of Dearborn's public health department, established in 2022, and previously worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. What is known: - Abazeed will work closely with other city executives, including anti-poverty chief Luke Shaefer, as health is incorporated across departments. - He founded Dearborn's standalone public health department in 2022, where his work included efforts to reduce drug overdoses and monitor air quality. - Dearborn and Detroit are the only two Michigan cities with standalone health departments. - He replaces Denise Fair Razo, who oversaw Detroit's pandemic response. - A 2024 Detroit community health survey of nearly 6,300 respondents highlighted issues including infant and maternal care, limited access to children's health care (reported at 27%), lack of affordable healthy food options, and health effects tied to poor air quality. Summary: City officials say Abazeed will collaborate with other executives to integrate health into policies across departments and programs. The appointment follows community findings that identified gaps in children's health care, food access and air quality. Undetermined at this time.