Jay C. ButlerMD

Jay Butler, UAA College of Health Dean
Dean, College of Health
(907) 786-4406
uaa_collegeofhealth@alaska.edu

Education

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Zoology/Animal Biology, North Carolina State University 

Biography

Dr. Jay C. Butler is the Dean of the College of Health at the University of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Anchorage, where he leads a broad portfolio of academic programs and initiatives to strengthen health education and workforce development in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ. He brings decades of experience in public health, clinical medicine, and health leadership to the College.

Before joining UAA, Dr. Butler served as Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he provided leadership on national infectious disease priorities and emergency responses. Before his federal service, he held several senior health leadership roles in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ, including Chief Medical Officer and Director of the State of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Division of Public Health and Senior Director for Community Health Services at the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Native Tribal Health Consortium.

Dr. Butler also directed the CDC’s Arctic Investigations Program, focusing on disease surveillance and response in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ and circumpolar regions, and served as an affiliate professor with UAA’s WWAMI School of Medical Education for over a decade.

His career has centered on improving public health systems and outcomes, with deep experience navigating complex health challenges—ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to efforts addressing the opioid crisis. Dr. Butler’s work spans state, tribal, and federal health sectors, and he is nationally recognized for his expertise in infectious diseases and public health leadership.

In his role as dean, Dr. Butler is committed to expanding the College’s capacity to educate and support the next generation of health professionals, tailoring education and research to meet the unique health needs of Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s diverse communities.

Outside of his professional work, he is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys activities such as fishing, trail running, skiing, and biking—reflecting his appreciation for Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ’s natural environment.

Publications

  • Butler JC. Public health approaches to preventing substance misuse and addictions. J Public Health Pract Manag 2017; 23:531-536. 
  • Johansson MA, Quandelacy TM, Kada S, Prasad PV, Steele M, Brooks JT, Slayton RB, Biggerstaff M, Butler JC. SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people without COVID-19 symptoms. JAMA Net Open 2021; 4(1):e2035057. 
  • Biggerstaff M, Slayton RB, Johansson MA, Butler JC. Improving pandemic response: Employing mathematical modeling to confront COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 74(5):913- 917.
  • Waddell CJ, Saldana CS, Schoonveld MM, Meehan AA, Lin CK, Butler JC, Mosites E. Infectious diseases among people experiencing homelessness: a systematic review of the literature in the United States and Canada, 2003-2022. Public Health Reports 2024; DOI: 10.1177/00333549241228525  
  • Levitt A, Mermin J, Jones CM, See I, Butler JC. Infectious diseases and injection drug use: Public health burden and response. J Infect Dis 2020; 222(S5):213-217.
  • Brooks JT, Butler JC. Effectiveness of mask wearing to control community spread of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA 2021; 325(10):998-999.
  • Mosites E, Morris SB, Self J, Butler JC. Data sources for estimating numbers of people experiencing homelessness in the United States: Opportunities and challenges for epidemiological research. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190(11):2432-2440.
  • Mosites E, Lobelo EE, Hughes L, Butler JC. Public health and homelessness: a framework. J Infect Dis 2022; 226(suppl 3):S372-S374. 
  • Hagen LM, Mosites E, Hughes-Baker L, Butler JC. Carceral health is public health. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30(Suppl 13):S1-S4. 40. 
  • Meehan AA, Hagen LM, Butler JC. Homeless encampments and involuntary displacement. JAMA 2025; 333(10):845-846.  
  • Fraser MR, Tucker P, Butler JC. The impact of state and territorial health policy: Interventions to prevent opioid misuse and addiction. In: The Practical Playbook II: Building Multisector Partnerships That Work. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2019; 425-443. 
  • Butler JC. The opioid crisis and social justice. In: Levy B, Sidel V, eds. Social Injustice and Public Health, 3rd ed. New York: NY: Oxford University Press; 2019; 311-313 
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