Biography
Dr. Michael Mendoza is the 9th Commissioner of Public Health for Monroe County, NY and Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine, Public Health Sciences, and Nursing at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Dr. Mendoza joined the faculty at the University of Rochester in 2009 and was appointed to serve as Medical Director at Highland Family Medicine, one of the largest family medicine residency teaching practices in the country. In the following seven years, Dr. Mendoza led the practice through unprecedented growth and change. Under his oversight, Highland Family Medicine became recognized as a local and national innovator in team-based care and interprofessional practice and education.
As Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Mendoza oversees the Monroe County Health Department comprised of a diverse array of health promotion and disease preparedness efforts serving the residents of Monroe County, NY.
In this role, Dr. Mendoza aims to improve population health through collaborations between primary healthcare delivery and public health practice. His clinical practice emphasizes evidence-based care, chronic illness prevention and management, and the integration of behavioral health in primary care. As an advocate for public health, Dr. Mendoza seeks to bridge the innovation and clinical rigor of academic primary care with the strengths of long-standing community assets and partnerships.
Dr. Mendoza is a recognized educator and writer. He was named "Teacher of the Year" by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His scholarly interests include studying and implementing practice-based innovations that promote quality and patient safety in underserved clinical settings, and capacity development for the primary care and public health workforce. His prior research focused on pay-for-performance incentive programs in underserved settings and the effects of community-based faculty development on the quality of medical student education. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and has held leadership roles in the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the New York State Academy of Family Physicians, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of several local community-based organizations.
Originally from Chicago, IL, Dr. Mendoza received his undergraduate and medical degrees from The University of Chicago. He received his Masters Degree in Public Health from The University of Illinois - Chicago, and he obtained his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. He completed his residency training in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California - San Francisco, and served an additional year as Chief Resident. He completed a Fellowship Program in Resident Teaching at UCSF and the Certificate Program in Biomedical Informatics at the Oregon Health and Science University. In his spare time, Dr. Mendoza enjoys running, cycling, cooking, and photography.
Awards
2021
Friend of Education Award
Sponsor: School Administrators Association of Rochester and Finger Lakes
Location: Rochester, NY
2021
Edward Mott Moore Physician of the Year Award
Sponsor: Monroe County Medical Society
Location: Rochester, NY
2021
Robert W. August Inspiring Hope Award
Sponsor: Hope Hall School
Location: Rochester, NY
2021
Outstanding Contribution to Infection Prevention Award
Sponsor: Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC)
Location: Rochester, NY
2021
New York State Senate Commendation
Sponsor: NY Senator Jeremy Cooney
Location: Rochester, NY
2020
Distinguished Service Award, Health Care Team
Sponsor: Rochester Academy of Medicine
Location: Rochester, NY
2018
George Huther Jr. Memorial Ward
Sponsor: Huther Doyle
Location: Rochester, NY
2018
The Charlotte Hegedus Award
Sponsor: National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence – Rochester
Location: Rochester, NY
2017
Alpha Omega Alpha
Sponsor: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Location: Rochester, NY
2014
Inaugural Inductee - Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame
Sponsor: Downers Grove South High School
Location: Downers Grove, IL
2012
Fellow
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians
Location: Kansas City, MO
2010
New Faculty Scholar Award
Sponsor: Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
Location: Kansas City, MO
2009
Nominee, Exemplary Teaching Award
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians
Location: Kansas City, MO
2008
Young Alumni Service Citation
Sponsor: University of Chicago Alumni Association
Location: Chicago, IL
2008
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship/HMPRG Appreciation Award
Location: Chicago, IL
2008
Gold Humanism Induction Keynote Speaker
Sponsor: University of Chicago School of Medicine,
2008
Teacher of the Year
Sponsor: Illinois Academy of Family Physicians
2001
Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
Sponsor: UIC
Location: Chicago, IL
2001
Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society
Sponsor: UIC School of Public Health
Location: Chicago, IL
2001
Alan W. Donaldson Memorial Award
Sponsor: UIC School of Public Health
Location: Chicago, IL
2000
Paul Q. Peterson Public Health Scholar
Sponsor: University of Illinois (UIC)
Location: Chicago, IL
2000
Albert Schweitzer Fellow
Sponsor: Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program
1996
National Health Service Corps Scholar
Sponsor: U.S. Public Health Service
1996
Howell Murray Award
Sponsor: University of Chicago Alumni Association
Location: Chicago, IL
1996
Founder - Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
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Publications
Journal Articles
6/6/2022
Denham A, Vasu T, Avendano P, Boslett A, Mendoza M, Hill EL. "Coroner county systems are associated with a higher likelihood of unclassified drug overdoses compared to medical examiner county systems." The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse.. 2022 Jun 6; :1-12. Epub 2022 Jun 06.
12/6/2021
Drame F, Urban MA, Inscho RR, Mendoza MD, Hiltunen K, Owens J, Stone C, Hart-Malloy R. "Best Practices Implementation: Congenital Syphilis Prevention Efforts in Monroe County, New York 2018." Sexually transmitted diseases.. 2021 Dec 6; Epub 2021 Dec 06.
10/23/2021
Alzamil H, Wu TT, van Wijngaarden E, Mendoza M, Malmstrom H, Fiscella K, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Billings RJ, Xiao J. "Removable Denture Wearing as a Risk Predictor for Pneumonia Incidence and Time to Event in Older Adults." JDR clinical and translational research.. 2021 Oct 23; :23800844211049406. Epub 2021 Oct 23.
Books & Chapters
2016
Chapter Title: Promoting Cardiovascular Health in Men
Book Title: Men's Health in Primary Care
Author List: Mendoza MD, Loo-Gross C
Edited By: Heidelbaugh J
Published By: Springer 2016
2015
Chapter Title: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Issues in Healthcare
Book Title: Family Medicine
Author List: Mendoza, MD; Lopez M
Edited By: Paulman, P; Taylor R
Published By: Springer International 2015 in Switzerland
2013
Chapter Title: Family Practice
Book Title: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty
Author List: Mendoza, MD; Vargish, L
Edited By: Brian Freeman
Published By: McGraw-Hill 2013 in New York
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