News from the Department of Public & Community Health

Dr Elbert Glover was invited to lecture in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Dr Elbert Glover just returned from an invited lecture in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg whereby he participated in a conference titled, Costs and Consequences of Tobacco Use: Health Economics Research. The conference was sponsored by the Minster of Health of Luxembourg and Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg and was presented before the Minster of Health. The conference was designed to explore the cost savings of reducing tobacco use by both preventing and treating tobacco. Dr Glover's presentation explored the public health models for reducing tobacco use; specifically, legal restrictions, advertising, marketing, taxation, smuggling, modifying nicotine yields, tobacco and the economy, social marketing of changing perceived norms and finally pharmacotherapies.

Dr Stacey Daughters had one of her National Institute of Drug Abuse grants regarding new tools

Dr Stacey Daughters, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and Community Health had one of her National Institute of Drug Abuse grants regarding new tools to identify at-risk youths featured in the TERP, Fall 2009, Vol 7, No. 1, page 15. She found that students who showed less distress tolerance were also more likely to report drug or alcohol abuse and other harmful behaviors identified through a follow up questionnaire. See full article

Dr Sharon Desmond was featured in the Washington Times

Dr Sharon Desmond, faculty member in the Department of Public and Community Health was featured in the Washington Times. Her Principles of Community Health class conducted a successful health fair in Beltsville, MD. For more information, tap into this link www.washingtontimes.com/news

Dr Ken Beck received a tremendous amount of news coverage on his alcohol research

Through a seven year study, Dr. Beck noted that drinking and driving is down in Maryland; however, driving and cell phone use and aggressive driving is up. Please tap into the following four links for greater detail. The links lead you to the Annapolis Capital, Triangle Business Journal in Raleigh/Durham, Baltimore Sun, and WJZ. 1. Annapolis Capital 2. Triangle Business Journal 3. Baltimore Sun 4. WJZ

Dr Kerry Green was awarded the George F. Kramer “Practitioner of Year Award"

Dr Kerry Green was awarded the George F. Kramer “Practitioner of Year Award” by the University of Maryland School of Public Health. This award is presented to a faculty member who has been recognized for doing an outstanding job of putting theory into practice (application of knowledge in a practical setting). Dr. Kerry Green has been working with urban communities in Baltimore and Chicago to better understand life course pathways to healthy living. She, along with a team of researchers, have been collecting data from childhood to adulthood among primarily African American individuals in order to identify key developmental periods of risk and determine malleable risk and protective factors at each life stage. Individuals in these studies were recruited in first grade as part of preventive efforts to improve classroom behavior and academic performance. Students have been followed up for up to 35 years. The goal of this work is to identify ways to decrease poor health behaviors, such as drug use, violence, and HIV risk, and poor health outcomes, such as depression and premature mortality, which plague many of our inner cities. These studies are guided by the Life Course Social Fields Perspective and uses theories of risk and resilience, social integration and control, as well as an ecological approach. Guiding theoretical perspectives direct attention to the interaction between individuals and social contexts throughout the life course. Her work is showing that community, family, school, peer, and individual factors matter more or less at different times in the life course. For example, guided by theories of social control and integration, Dr Green is finding that social roles, such as that of employee, and social integration, like church membership, protects adults against drug abuse and dependence. This work suggests that efforts to increase workforce participation and community integration could make significant differences in decreasing adult onset drug use and disorders. Additionally, she and her colleagues are finding that the preventive interventions they are conducting can have positive implications beyond their initial targets. For example, Dr. Green found that one of the educational interventions implemented in first grade, which was designed to improve academic achievement and decrease depressive symptoms, also relates to delays in the onset of alcohol use among adolescents. With implications for eliminating health disparities, Dr. Green’s work with urban African American populations suggests that theoretically-guided, evidence-based preventive interventions that are culturally appropriate need to be implemented in our urban communities. The Department of Public and Community Health is proud of Dr. Green’s accomplishments and praise her for her work in the community. This is a well deserved honor.

Dr. Feldman is working on a study on the effect of social support to increase smoking cessation in the workplace.

Dr. Robert Feldman, Professor in the Department of Public and Community Health just returned from Costa Rica where he is working on a study on the effect of social support to increase smoking cessation in the workplace. Dr. Feldman is working with colleagues from the Universidad de Iberoamérica (UNIBE) in San José, Costa Rica where he is an UNIBE International Professor of Psychology. Dr. Feldman spent his sabbatical year, 2007-2008, collaborating with the Costa Rican Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency and UNIBE on the development of the research study.

Genevieve Martinez-Garcia has been awarded the Mabel S. Spencer Award.

Genevieve Martinez-Garcia has been awarded the Mabel S. Spencer Award, which includes a $15,000 stipend and doctoral candidacy tuition remission, to continue her community based participatory research with at-risk Hispanic youth in Montgomery County, Maryland. More specifically, Ms. Martínez-García will use her award funds to explore the risk factors associated with unintended pregnancies among Hispanic youth in Montgomery County.

Dr. Kerry Green received an RO1 from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Congrats to Kerry Green who received an RO1 from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Drug Abuse. The title of the project is: Substance Use and Psychological Problems in African Americans into Midlife.

DESCRIPTION: National data indicate that both substance use and psychological problems become more pronounced for African Americans in midlife, but few studies have examined the development of risk for these problems in African American communities, particularly into mid adulthood. Moreover, high rates of co-occurrence demand an approach that explores both unique and shared risk factors; however, these problems rarely have been studied together. Applying a developmental perspective, we aim to examine specific risk, protective, mediating, and moderating factors that influence later substance use and psychological problems among a community- based African American population followed longitudinally. In addition, there is a great need to determine how substance use and psychological problems contribute to physical health decline in mid adulthood. Spanning more than 35 years of life, the Woodlawn Study, an epidemiological, prospective study of an African American community cohort, provides extensive data for understanding risk and protective factors and the short- and long-term consequences of substance use and psychological problems outside the context of treatment. With data extending into midlife - a neglected dimension of the life course - early risk factors and key mediating and moderating influences can be identified in an understudied population. This cohort was assessed initially as first graders in 1966-67 (N=1242), and followed up in adolescence (age 15-16), early adulthood (age 32-33), and mid-adulthood (age 42-43), creating an unprecedented chronicle of individual, family, and environmental characteristics, diverse life-course experiences, and their ultimate consequences.

Dr Elbert D. Glover, Professor and Chair in the Department of Public and Community Health just returned from United Arab Emirates

Dr Elbert D. Glover, Professor and Chair in the Department of Public and Community Health just returned from United Arab Emirates (UAE) where at the request of the Commissioner for Academic Accreditation in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE was one of a 2-member visiting committee who reviewed the application for the Masters of Public Health from the Gulf Medical University (GMU). The GMU is located in the Al Jarf area in the northern Emirate of Ajman. In addition to the accreditation assignment, Dr Glover visited with select faculty in the hopes of igniting collaborative research between the GMU and the School of Public Health.

Congratulations to Brian Gilchrist, a second year Ph.D. student, whose past employer was just awarded two grants that he wrote, described below

New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program RFA Advocacy in Action $125,00.00 per yr/5yrs RFA #0802260500 These programs will actively engage college students in policy and advocacy actions such as: smoke-free outdoor policies on and off campus; smoke-free dorm policies; tobacco-free campus store policies; policies prohibiting tobacco company or tobacco product promotion in bars, fraternities and sororities, and other venues on and off campus; and policies prohibiting tobacco company commercial sponsorship and corporate giving.

New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program RFA Youth Action Program $175,000 per year/5yrs Youth Action programs are designed to integrate youth participants into the work of the NY TCP. These programs will actively engage individual youth in a supportive peer group, working with adult guidance, to take action to mitigate, reduce or eliminate: The fraudulent and deceptive marketing practices of tobacco companies. Tobacco product advertising at the point of purchase (POP). Smoking in G, PG, and PG-13 movies. • The harm caused by secondhand smoke. The promotion and normalization of tobacco products and tobacco use.

see http://fridayletter.asph.org/article_view.cfm?FLE_Index=10288&FL_Index=1578

Dr. Beck in the Association of Schools of Public Health Friday Letter

Congratulations to Dr. Ken Beck for notice in the Association of Schools of Public Health Friday Letter for his work with the state. http://fridayletter.asph.org/article_view.cfm?FILE_Index=10189&FL_Index=1576

Dr Daughters is featured in Between the Columns

see http://betweenthecolumns.umd.edu/2009/06/08/toleratingdistress/

Dr Pamela Clark has been awarded an NIH NCI grant

Dr Pamela Clark has been notified of an award from NIH NCI for the project titled, "Standardization of Methods to Measure Waterpipe Smoke Emissions and Exposure." This is a 4-year project (06/01/2009 - 04/30/2013). Total budget over 4 years is $2,703,735.

Dr Daughters has been notified by NIH of the diversity grant supplement

Dr Daughters has been notified by NIH that Sylvette LaTouche's diversity grant supplement has been approved for funding! Official notice to the University will probably come in 3-4 weeks! This is is Stacey second diversity/minority supplement, the other was Tanya Geiger...Keep up the great work Stacey, you're rolling...

Dr Elbert Glover just returned from several invited lectures

Dr Elbert Glover just returned from several invited lectures in Red Bank, New Jersey; Gran Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Panama City, Panama. Dr Glover delivered a medical lecture in New Jersey on varenicline a partial agonist for helping smokers quit. He also presented a medical series lecture in the Cayman Islands on the latest pharmacological adjuncts to assist smokers with cessation; moreover, he was the featured speaker for Doctor's Day in Panama City, Panama. Again, the lecture was to physicians and presented the latest pharmacological options for assisting smokers with cessation.

Dr Stacey Daughters' research is currently featured in NIDA Notes

Dr Stacey Daughters' research is currently featured in NIDA Notes (Vol 22, number 2) published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, NIH. The publication notes that men with co-occurring substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) may particularly benefit from judicially mandated addiction treatment. The article further notes that her research has 2 important implications for substance abuse users with ASPD: 1) Judicial mandates offer a way to keep them in addiction treatment programs, and 2) voluntary participants may require special interventions to keep them actively engaged in therapy. More can be found at the link below or Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 34(2):157-164, 2008. http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol22N3/RIB.html

Jamie Lok wins the Meritorious MPH Project Award for Spring 2009

Jamie Lok's project, A Qualitative Study to Initiate Future Smokeless Tobacco Dependence Instrument Development won the meritorious award for outstanding MPH project for Spring 2009. Her committee chair was Dr Elbert D Glover and the committee members were Drs Pamela Clark and Jessica Rath. Congrats to Jamie and the committee.

Public and Community Health undergraduate students elected to Phi Beta Kappa

The newly released University of Maryland Phi Beta Kappa list notes several departmental majors. The list consists of graduating seniors and high-performing juniors. Junior elected was Rachel Anne Blair. Seniors elected were Stephanie Nicole Fiore, Elisa Meredith Fisher, Danielle Marie Goldberg and Chandni Dipak Shah. Congrats to these exceptional students...we're proud to have them as majors.

Nikita Boston, the newly elected incoming President of our Epsilon Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma won the Kirwan award

Nikita Boston, the newly elected incoming President of our Epsilon Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma won the Kirwan award. It's a university wide award so it's a major honor for her and a comment on the type  of student the department is attracting.

The award is presented to a member of the junior class who during his/her collegiate career has exhibited outstanding leadership and commitment to the college community.  Nominees are judged on the following criteria: involvement in student organizations and activities, service to the campus community, involvement in service to the broader community including community service and service learning, promotion of campus diversity or ethnic/race and international relations, outstanding academic performance and leadership qualities including mentoring young students. Great honor for Nikita Boston. .

Talia Lewis was just chosen a 2009-210 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar

Talia Lewis, the Individual Studies major (Health, Culture, and Inequality Studies) was chosen a 2009-210 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar; moreover, Talia named Sharon Desmond, her IVSP Faculty Mentor, as the faculty member who has made the most impact on her academic achievement

The Department was well represented at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

The Department of Public and Community Health was well represented at the Joint Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco-USA and the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco-Europe recently held in Dublin, Ireland with 5 persons attending. Moreover, 5 posters and a major workshop involved 5 faculty (Dr Elbert Glover, Dr Pamela Clark, Dr Jessica Rath, Dr Donna Howard, and Summa Babu and 1 doctoral student, Eva Sharma. The posters presented were: 1) Transdisciplinarity Among Tobacco Harm Reduction Researchers: A Network Analytic Approach; 2) Electroencephalographic (EEG) Response to Variation in Smokeless Tobacco pH; 3) Assessment of Nicotine Dependence and Its Demographic Correlates Among African American Smokers; 4) Differences in Mouth-Level Nicotine Delivery with Variation in Cigarette Smoke pH; 5) Smokers and PREP's Measurement of Inhaled and Exhaled Tobacco Smoke Particulate. Of note is that Eva Sharma a graduate student was lead author on one of the posters #3.

Dr. Glover Participates in NIDA Workshop in Dublin, Ireland

Dr. Glover participated in a National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) workshop titled, NIDA Medications Development Workshop: Smoking Cessation and Beyond in Dublin, Ireland. The workshop was a NIDA Satellite to the 2009 joint conference of the Society of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, USA and Society of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Europe. Participants in the 3-hour workshop were Dr Glover who presented, Evaluation of Selegiline Transdermal System for Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Results of NIDA's 246-Subject, Multi-Site Trial. The second presenter was Dr. Celia Jaffe Winchell from the Food and Drug Administration who presented, Medications to Treat Tobacco Dependence: An FDA Perspective. The final presenter was David J. McCann of the National Institute on Drug Abuse who presented, Medications Development for Polydrug Addiction Treatment: A NIDA Perspective. After the presentations the final hour was fielding questions from the audience.

Dr. Glover Trains Physicians in Puerto Rico

Dr. Glover was invited to train physicians in a series of workshops throughout Puerto Rico on treating nicotine dependence; moreover, Dr. Glover discussed his latest research findings on an NIDA funded trial of selegiline a MAO B inhibitor in a transdermal format as an aid to smoking cessation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded The University of Maryland a Prevention Research Center

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded The University of Maryland a Prevention Research Center (UMD-PRC) grant. Dr Brad Boekeloo, Department of Public and Community Health is the PI. The grant is to develop the UMD-PRC and aims to develop ways of improving the health of communities neighboring the University of Maryland School of Public Health in College Park. Congrats to Dr Boekeloo and all those persons who contributed to the development of the grant.

Former Graduate of the Department of Public and Community Health Installed as New President of The American Academy of Health Behavior

At the annual scientific meeting of the American Academy of Health Behavior in Hilton Head (March 2009), a former UMD doctoral student in Public and Community Health, Molly Laflin, passed the presidency gavel to another former graduate of the department, Dennis Thombs. Dr Laflin was first female president of The Academy and is currently Professor at Bowling Green State University. Dr Thombs is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. Both make the department proud.

Scott Leischow another former graduate of the department is the sitting president of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.... Dr. Leischow serving a president of SRNT, Dr Molly Laflin just stepping down as President of AAHB, Dr Dennis Thombs assuming President of AAHB, and Pat Mail, just 2 years ago serving as President of the largest health organization in the world, APHA, that the department is graduating some incredible professionals!

Maryland MPH Student, Jamie Lok, Selected for Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa

Ms. Jamie Lok, a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, was recently selected for membership into the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). Founded in 1914, entrance into this national leadership honor society is considered to be one of the most prestigious collegiate honors that can be awarded to a student.

A second year MPH student in the department of community and public health, Ms. Lok has demonstrated a commitment to both leadership and scholarship during her years at Maryland. Among various projects, Ms. Lok has worked on research into minority health disparities among Asian Americans, and was elected in October to serve as the student representative on the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (APIC) executive board of the American Public Health Association. She currently works as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Health Behavior Research, working closely with faculty members on nicotine addiction and clinical trials. She is also working on her MPH project examining smokeless tobacco dependence.

"I feel tremendously honored to become a member of such a distinguished group of leaders," Ms. Lok said. To be eligible for induction, students must rank in the upper thirty-five percent of their class, meet a certain GPA, and demonstrate leadership in at least one of five phases of campus life. As part of her induction, Ms. Lok will have her named engraved on the ODK fountain located on McKeldin Mall in the heart of the Maryland campus.

Drs. Beck and Daughters received 2009 American Academy of Health Behavior Poster Awards

Dr. Beck, Fell, and Yan received OUTSTANDING RESEARCH POSTER at 2009 AAHB Conference for their poster titled A comparison of drivers with high vs. low perceived risk of being caught for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Dr. Daughters is a co-author for receiving POSTERS OF DISTINCTION at 2009 AAHB Conference for the poster titled Examining the effectiveness of integrating the LETS ACT behavioral treatment for depression into an inner-city residential drug treatment center.

Lyn Stoesen has been selected as Presidential Management Fellow Finalist

Lyn Stoesen, an MPH student in the department has been selected as Presidential Management Fellow Finalist...there were over 4,000 applicants.

Undergraduate Internship Poster Session

On Wednesday March 4, 2009, 77 undergraduate interns showcased their current internship placements by participating in a poster session. Attendees included majors enrolled in HLTH 490, and several DPCH faculty. The poster session serves as a means for internship students to describe their experience, and enables HLTH 490 students to investigate possible internship opportunities.

Dr. Glover will present at NIDA Medications Development Workshop

Dr. Glover will present at NIDA Medications Development Workshop: SMOKING CESSATION & BEYOND on April 2009 at Dublin, Ireland. The title of his presentation is Evaluation of Selegiline Transdermal System for Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Results of NIDA's 246 Subject, Multi-Site Trial.

Dr. Glover received a grant ($413,675) from Nabi Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Glover received a grant ($413,675) from Nabi Pharmaceuticals titled "A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess Efficacy, Immunogenicity and Safety of 3'-aminomethylnicotine-/P. aeruginosa/ r-Exoprotein A Conjugate Vaccine (NicVAX® ) as an Aid to Smoking Cessation".

Dr. Sawyer received two 2008 Telly Awards in the categories of Education and Human Sexuality

Dr. Sawyer was the recipient of two 2008 Telly Awards in the categories of Education and Human Sexuality for his recent film production, "Playing the Game 2." Since 1979 The Telly Awards have recognized the very best in local, regional, national and international television programs and independent films. The competition this year received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.

Alice Yan has been invited to serve on a RWJ 2009 Grantee Conference Committee

Alice Yan has been invited to serve on a 2009 Grantee Conference Committee of Robert Wood Johnson 6th Active Living Research Grantee Meeting Feb 18-20, 2009 in San Diego, CA. There are 7 persons invited nationwide, 6 of them are professors with Alice being the only student invited. The invitee come from research institutions including MD Anderson cancer center, UNC Chapel Hill and Hopkins, etc. Alice was invited for receiving the RWJ Dissertation grant!

Dr. Holt received a NCI grant (RO1 - $628,963) titled "Religion and Cancer-Related Behaviors in Black Americans."

Dr. Holt received a CDC grant ($543,387) titled "Reasons for Low Follow-up in Black CRC Patients."

Dr. Clark received a NIDA grant (RO1 - $371,361) titled "Physiologic Impact of Variations in Smoke PH".

Dr. Daughters received a NIDA grant (R01 - $337,500) titled "Behavioral Depression Treatment for African American HIV-infected Substance Users".

Dr. Sawyer to appear on an MTV show as a sex consultant/expert.

Dr. Robin Sawyer is featured in a ongoing column in College, College Park Edition, titled, Q&A: with the Sexy Professor answering questions about sex.

Dr. Carolyn Voorhees was selected by the University of Michigan to receive the 2008 Alumni Career Achievement Award.

Dr. Sawyer is on Fox News Morning Show

Dr. Howard received the Doris Sands "Excellent Teaching" award

Dr. Donna Howard, Associate Professor for Public and Community Health, was given the Doris Sands "Excellent Teaching" award at the faculty retreat. This award is presented to a faculty member who has been evaluated by the department chair, peers and students as being an excellent teacher in his/her area of expertise.

Dr. Doris Sands was a renowned sexuality educator who was recognized for her tremendous teaching skills and ability to reach students.

Mariano Kanamori won first place honors at the 2008 UMD student interaction research day

Mariano Kanamori, a doctoral graduate student in the Department of Public and Community Health won first place honors at the 2008 UMD student interaction research day in the exploring identities category. Congratulations to Mariano.

Drs Atkinson, Howard and Sawyer were recognized as honored faculty

Drs Atkinson, Howard and Sawyer were recognized as honored faculty at the Inaugural Scholarship and Research Celebration May 1, 2008, hosted by the Provost and Vice President UMCP.

Dr. Howard has been selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to India

Dr. Howard has been selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to India by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Dept of State, which oversees the operations of Fulbright Programs throughout the world. During the 2008-9 academic year, while on sabbatical, Dr Howard will be a Fulbright Fellow at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India where she will teach public health to medical/allied health professionals and graduate students, present seminars, and also engage in a host of community-based public health activities in the southwestern region of the country. As a representative of the U.S. in India, Dr Howard will help fulfill the principal purpose of the Fulbright Program which is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of the over 150 countries that currently participate in the Fulbright Program.

Dr. Sawyer's Sexpertise book is scheduled for release on April 22nd

Dr. Glover's Smoking Research was honored by the American Academy of Health Behavior

Congratulations to Alice Yan for her dissertation grant award from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Alice was awarded a very competitive grant for her dissertation by the RWJ-Active Living Research for the year 2007. Active Living Research is a national program that stimulates and supports research to identify environmental factors and policies that influence physical activity. Alice was awarded $25,000 for up to 2 years.

Assistant/Associate Professor Job Announcement

Link to the Announcement

Robin Sawyer was recently honored by the AIDS and sexual health resource organization, Mothers' Voices, at a luncheon in Miami, Florida.

Robin received the organization's "Extraordinary Voice" award in recognition of his pioneering efforts to improve the sexual health of youth and adolescents. Mothers' Voices is a national non-profit organization that conducts programs to give parents the skills they need to communicate with their children about sexual health and HIV/STD prevention, in addition to working directly with adolescents, and youth. To date, Mothers' Voices has reached over 20,000 parents and families with their programs and outreach activities.

National Television Exposure for Center Research

Link to the video

Dr. Robin Sawyer's teaching attracts national attention on the Today Show

Link to the video

Dr. Elbert Glover interviewed by Internal Medicine World Report

Link to the article

Dr. Robin Sawyer interviewed by Washington Post

Link to the article

Graduate programs ranked 12th best in the nation.

For the first time, the US News and World Report Rankings include graduate programs in public and community health. In its first ever ranking the Department is listed at number 12 in the country. This is terrific recognition for our programs, especially the MPH degree which only began in 1999. Although the whole issue of rankings should be viewed with some caution, being recognized as such a highly considered program is rewarding for faculty, staff and students. Congratulations to everyone!

Here are the top 25 rankings:

Doctoral Program Among Top Ten in U.S.

...in the last National Ranking Study of Doctoral Programs in Health Education. Journal of Health Education. A study ranking 28 doctoral programs in health education was conducted in 1999 by Dr. James Eddy, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Dr. Thomas O’Rourke and Stephen Notaro, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Department of Public & Community Health (formerly Health Education) was ranked 8th with five of the seven who ranked higher being Schools of Public Health. Based on academic productivity, including variables such as published articles, citations and external funding, our average faculty ranking was 4th. Only one institution had more individual variables than Maryland ranking in the top 10; none had more individual variables ranking in the top 20.

Faculty Awards and Special Recognition

University, College and Professional awards and faculty recognition attest to the excellence of our outstanding faculty. More UMCP Department of Public and Community Health faculty have been selected as Fellows in the American Academy for Health Behavior than any other department in the nation.

Some notable examples include:

• American Academy for Health Behavior Fellows (Brad Boekeloo, Ken Beck, Robert Gold, Elbert Glover, MinQi Wang)
• American Association for Health Education Presidential Citation (Robert Gold)
• School of Public Health Jerry P. Wrenn Outstanding Service Award (Robin Sawyer)
• School of Public Health Research and Development Award (Robert Gold)
• Diversity Initiative Faculty Support Award winner (Sharon Desmond)
• Three faculty recognized as “Rain-makers” among the campus’s leading faculty grant recipients (Ken Beck, Brad Boekeloo)
• University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (Robin Sawyer)