The Public Health Practice Award has been designed by the Epidemiology Section to recognize the use of epidemiologic methods in an innovative and creative public health program or project. 

The award committee will consider both individuals and/or organizations for the award.  An individual investigator must be within 10 years of their terminal degree.  An organization may have been in existence for any amount of time.  Examples of projects that may merit such an award include the improvement of disease surveillance, creative pre- and post-intervention assessments, innovative ways of improving study participation, and/or communication of epidemiologic measures to the participating community. Projects may also be national in scope, but all projects must demonstrate measurable relevance to improving public health. Awardees will receive a nominal monetary award and an engraved clock.

Last year, the winners of the 2005 Epidemiology Section Public Health Practice Award were Mark LoMurray and Carol Meidinger of the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project.  Within a 4-year time span, this project demonstrated a 47 percent reduction in 10-19 year old suicide fatalities, compared to the 10-year average in the 1990s, and a 29 percent decrease in suicide attempts in North Dakota youth according to the North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey.  The project used a multi-faceted approach, including, public awareness, education, gatekeeper training, peer to peer mentoring training of over 6,600 teens. It integrated epidemiologic and other outcome measures, which allowed them to target efforts to specific populations and benchmark success.

For more information and to make nominations, contact Robin Taylor Wilson by e-mail at <rwilson@psu.edu> or by telephone at (717) 531-7178. Nominees must not necessarily have a degree in epidemiology, although the application of epidemiologic methods must be clear. Nominations should include a brief description of the project and the role of the investigator or project group being nominated in addition to Web sites or other supporting documentation of the project or individual’s work being nominated. If you choose to make a nomination, please include your contact information so that the Epidemiology Section Awards Committee may contact you if further details are necessary. Nominations are due by June 15, 2006.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!