October 26, 2012

A huge congratulations goes out to Dr. Dennis McCarty, professor and vice chair of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and head of the Health Services Research Division who will be honored at the American Public Health Association’s 140th annual meeting with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Section. The award is meant to recognize an individual who has had a long and distinguished career in the field and has provided a lifetime of significant contributions. Dr. McCarty’s career has focused on bridging the gap between policy, practice, and research related to alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention. Read more about this recognition of Dr. McCarty here:

http://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/researchnews/2012/10/23/dennis-mccarty-phd-receives-lifetime-achievement-award/ 

Outstanding Faculty Award, Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Ellen Smit
Epidemiology Track, Oregon State University

For the past 15 years, Dr. Smit has taught at various institutions such as John Hopkins University, Morgan State University, SUNY Buffalo, and Portland State University. Dr. Smit is currently an Associate Professor at Oregon State University.  At Oregon State University, Dr. Smit was the founding leader track coordinator for the Epidemiology track in helping to develop curricula and courses. Dr. Smit was responsible for the programmatic design of the new track, which included developing materials for the OMPH program and the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), as well as recruiting new students. 

Dr. Smit started her collegiate journey with a B.S. in Clinical Nutrition in 1986 from Loma Linda University’s School of Allied Health Professionals.Dr. Smit continued her education with an M.S. in Nutrition in 1990 from Loma Linda University and then a Ph.D. in Epidemiology in 1998 from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health. Dr. Smit’s career path has taken her across the United States from her first position as a Clinical Dietitian in California, to Puerto Rico, Washington DC, Maryland, New York, and finally to her current Associate Professor position in Oregon.

Dr. Smit has had her work appear in publications on many different topics such as physical activity and nutrition studies that link to research for: cancer, obesity, illness and infectious disease, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Two of Dr. Smit’s most recent publications include, “Comparison of MTI Accelerometer Cut-Points at Estimating Physical Activity Intensity, Prevalence, and Relationship with Health Outcomes, NHANES 2003-2006,” for the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and, “Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Physical Performance in Postmenopausal Women,” in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Please join us in congratulating her!

Outstanding Faculty Award, Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Judith Sobel
Health Promotion Track, Portland State University

Dr. Judith Sobel has spent over two decades teaching students at Portland State University. As a contributing member and an originating faculty member of the OMPH, she has helped build the foundation of the OMPH program.

 Dr. Sobel started her collegiate journey with a B.A. in Information Science and Community Studies from the University of California in 1975. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota, where she received both her M.A. in Mass Communication Research in 1977 and her Ph.D. in 1981 in Mass Communication Research, Special Emphasis: Research Methods, Health Behavior Campaigns, Use of Media and Interpersonal Counseling in Community Interventions. Dr. Sobel obtained her MPH in Public Health at the University of California in 1983.  

Please join us in congratulating her!