Lillian Shirley honored as Public Health Hero by Research!America
Lillian M. Shirley, director of Multnomah County Health Department, was named a Public Health Hero by Research!America, a national health education and advocacy alliance. She was one of eleven public health professionals honored and profiled by the organization.
According to Research!America, Lillian Shirley’s work “helps communities identify and improve on the health impact of public health concerns such as smoke-free housing, through policy change and education. Using the science and tools of public health: epidemiology, surveillance and community engagement, the Multnomah County Health Department has refocused its work on eliminating the root causes and consequences of racial, ethnic and economic disparities in health.”
Shirley’s commitment to social justice frames her work as she looks for opportunities to learn from the people who are affected by chronic disease and other health issues. “Public health is learning more from our clients in their kitchens than in academic lecture halls. We are all in this together and the health of our own families and communities cannot be separated from the health of the community at large,” said Shirley.
Posted on December 1, 2008
Comments
(Note: Comments are the views of their authors, and no one else.)
Posted by: Lew Frederick - December 1, 2008 04:19 PM
Well deserved honor for Lillian and the County. We can take the next step and all support her proposals for dealing with the inequities in our health care system.
Posted by: Jeff Cogen - December 2, 2008 11:13 AM
Very good point, Lew. I'm with you (and Lillian) 100%
Jeff