Posted February 16, 2000

Berkeley has not always been perceived as a health sciences campus. This view has persisted despite the presence of two highly rated health science schools -- public health and optometry -- and a strong research enterprise in the area. In 1998-99 alone, grant support from Health and Human Services was $129.5 million or 44 percent of all federal research funds received by Berkeley.

In addition to publicizing the success of its research programs, the School of Public Health has undertaken several initiatives to increase awareness of both the school and, more generally, the heath sciences at Berkeley. One such activity, established in 1996, is the UC Berkeley Public Heath Heroes program.

This annual tradition acknowledges individuals and organizations for contributions to promoting and protecting the health of the human population.

This year's Public Health Heroes are:

Pamela Arbuckle

Pamela Arbuckle, the regional honoree, is a social service dentist in Alameda County, who has dedicated her career to providing basic dental health and wellness care and education to traditionally underserved groups, such as the homeless, those with HIV and AIDS. While Arbuckle has chosen the career path less taken, she extols how professionally rewarding an experience it has been.

Sir Richard Doll

Sir Richard Doll, the world renowned epidemiologist and cancer researcher, is being honored as this year's international Public Health Hero for his career, which has spanned more than half a century and included such seminal works as the landmark study he and Sir Austin Bradford Hill conducted in 1950 that established the link between smoking and lung cancer.

Louis W. Sullivan

Louis W. Sullivan, president of the Morehouse School of Medicine and former Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been selected as the national honoree. Sullivan is a nationally recognized leader in health professions education, and regarded for his efforts to improve opportunities in this area for members of underrepresented populations.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest non-profit provider of integrated health care services, is this year's organizational honoree. Kaiser is recognized for its historical commitment to serving a social benefit role in the communities it serves, including innovations in new health care delivery and financing methods; investments in basic research; and assistance for uninsured and special need populations.

February 16 - 22, 2000 (Volume 28, Number 22)
Copyright 2000, The Regents of the University of California.
Produced and maintained by the Office of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley.
Comments? E-mail berkeleyan@pa.urel.berkeley.edu.