SRPH student receives honorable mention for ASPH project

(COLLEGE STATION, TX) — John Prochaska, M.P.H., and Dr. P.H. student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, recently received an honorable mention on his project for the 2006 Association of Schools of Public Health/Health Resources and Services Administration Council on Linkages Award for Student Excellence in Public Health Practice.

HSC-SRPH faculty nominated Mr. Prochaska for the award in recognition of his contributions to the Diabetes Prevention and Management Initiative being conducted at the school’s Prevention Research Center.

“Exciting progress to date includes developing strong collaborative partnerships with community representatives that enables the joint development of various activities such as a train-the-trainer chronic disease management class, an interactive touch-screen educational program, and new office practice designs that can spread programs and services in the rural areas surrounding Bryan-College Station,” Mr. Prochaska said.

The award is sponsored by the ASPH Council of Public Health Practice Coordinators, HRSA Bureau of Health Professions Center for Public Health, and Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. The Award for Student Excellence in Public Health Practice recognizes student comprehension, application and growth regarding public health practice. It encourages faculty and students to address the “how” and “why” regarding their interpretation of public health practice and the achievement of practice. Mr. Prochaska competed against 33 other public health students nationwide.

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 School of Rural Public Health, and the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.