SRPH receives BVCOG Glen J. Cook Regional Services Award

(COLLEGE STATION, TX) — The Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health received the prestigious Glen J. Cook Regional Services Award from the Brazos Valley Council of Governments at its annual meeting Wednesday, Sept. 12.

“On behalf of the School of Rural Public Health, I am pleased to accept this award acknowledging the strong partnership and commitment that our academic institution has with the community,” said Ciro Sumaya, M.D., M.P.H.T.M., dean of the HSC-SRPH. “All the knowledge, research and training we generate at the School means little if it does not have an impact on the health and well-being of people. And, we cannot make this happen alone – it requires a firm and sincere collaboration between the School and the communities of the Brazos Valley that we serve.”

Tom Wilkinson, executive director of the BVCOG, said, “The Board of BVCOG is pleased to recognize the School of Rural Public Health and Center for Community Health Development (CCHD) for their leadership in addressing the needs of the underserved for health care in our seven counties.”

James Burdine, Dr.P.H., director of the HSC-SRPH CCHD, was appreciative of the honor.

“The recognition by the Brazos Valley Council of Governments through the Glenn Cook Services Award of our School and Center is humbling,” Dr. Burdine said. “The Center’s focus has been to bring together organizations, agencies and individuals from the community to work collaboratively. It is hard to take credit for their accomplishments. Dean Sumaya’s leadership and vision led to the creation of our Center, but it is the community itself – through organizations like the Brazos Valley Health Partnership – that deserve recognition.”

The award recognizes Brazos Valley organizations promoting regionalism in the area through cooperating or promoting cooperation between the different governments, organizations or agencies in the region to improve the health, safety and general welfare of its citizens; and pooling or promoting the pooling of monetary and personnel resources to provide services at the most economical cost to the region’s constituents and citizens.

The award also honors those entities developing or promoting strategies of regional economic growth or community development so that planning of transportation systems is improved; adequate street, utility, health, educational, recreational and other essential facilities are provided for present and/or future needs; needs of agriculture, business and industry are recognized; healthful surroundings for family life in residential areas are provided; historical and cultural values are preserved; duplication is eliminated, economy is promoted, and more efficiency is provided for coordinated efforts; water supply, drainage or land use is provided; special problems of agriculture, forestry and conservation are addressed and/or resolved; and any other needs or services of the region are addressed and/or provided.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its six components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and the School of Rural Public Health.