Winter break was no break for School of Public Health faculty who won prestigious memberships that both honor their work thus far and invite them to contribute to national policy and scholarship in their public health disciplines.
Three SPH faculty were accepted as members of national academies, prominent bodies of expertise that provide independent science-based advice to inform policy. The National Academies of Practice (NAP) included Drs. Sylvette La Touche-Howard and Tracy Zeeger as Distinguished Fellows of the Public Health Academy, recognizing each of their outstanding achievements and leadership in both professional and interprofessional care.
La Touche-Howard, associate clinical professor and assistant dean of Public Health Practice & Community Engagement, dedicates her time to bridging behavioral health, research, and social impact to create a sustainable and equitable future.
“I am deeply honored to be named a Distinguished Fellow in this inaugural cohort, especially at a time when public health is both challenged and critically needed,” she said.
“I am deeply honored to be named a Distinguished Fellow in this inaugural cohort, especially at a time when public health is both challenged and critically needed.”
“I am deeply honored to be named a Distinguished Fellow in this inaugural cohort, especially at a time when public health is both challenged and critically needed,” she said.
La Touche-Howard says the opportunity reaffirms her commitment to advancing the field, collaborating with esteemed colleagues, and advocating for evidence-based solutions that protect and promote community well-being.
Zeeger, associate clinical professor and assistant dean of Public Health Practice & Community Engagement, is dedicated to teaching and advising students as well as health education.
“I am incredibly honored and excited,” Zeeger said. ”This is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to an organization dedicated to advancing interprofessional practice and improving health for all, and, crucially, to shaping the future of public health.”
Zeeger looks forward to collaborating with peers and contributing to the important work of the academy with its core values of collaboration, patient-centeredness, inclusivity and interconnectedness.
Kinesiology professor Dr. J. Carson Smith was also accepted as a 2024 fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology, which promotes and enhances physical education issues, nationally and internationally. Smith will bring a long scholarship on brain health in older adults to this prestigious membership.