As director of the Crater Health District, Dr. Hart actively endeavors to build healthy communities in the Crater Health District. In 2012, Dr. Hart launched a “50 in 5” goal, aimed at reducing Petersburg’s teen pregnancy rate by 50%. As of 2017, the “50 in 5” goal was met, with the teen pregnancy rate decreasing by 50% of the 2012 rate. He has been instrumental in the district’s efforts to address adverse childhood experiences/childhood (ACEs) through programs such as the Beyond ACEs Summits in 2017 and 2019. Some of his past work includes serving as principal investigator on an American Cancer Society funded study to develop an interactive computer-based program to help African-American men make informed decisions about prostate cancer screening. He also was principal investigator on a National Cancer Institute funded project, “Exploring Cigarette Dependence among African-American Males in Barbershops.” His honors include a 2011 Telly Award for Video and Film for his prostate cancer educational video, and selection as a mentor in the National Cancer Institute’s Research to Reality Mentoring Program, a program focused on evidence-based public health practice. Dr. Hart is a board-certified internist by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Occupation

District Health Director, Crater District Health Departments/Virginia Department of Health (2012-present)

Work History

  • Associate Scientific Director, Center on Health Disparities—Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Medical Director, Massey Cancer Center’s Adult Cancer Survivorship Clinic
  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Education

  • Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, a research fellowship for physicians
  • MD, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA
  • MPH, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • MDiv, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA

Activities, Associations and Volunteer Work

  • Board Member, Thrive Birth to Five
  • Member, Petersburg Wellness Consortium (since inception)
  • Member, Southside Trauma-Informed Community Network (STICN) (since inception)
  • Member, Petersburg Community and Policy Management Team, Office of Children’s Services
  • Member, Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health, Cohort II
  • Past Leadership Team Member, Wellness Engagement Project, funded by a Virginia Commonwealth University research grant designed to address obesity in Petersburg
  • Creator, former Petersburg Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force
  • Past member, The Cameron Foundation’s Healthcare Advisory Council
  • Past member, Petersburg City and Schools Partnership Steering Committee
  • Past participant, Dinwiddie Resource Council
  • Past participant, Hopewell Substance Use Disorder Coalition
« go back to Board
Alton Hart Jr., MD, MPH

Alton Hart Jr., MD, MPH