HSPH Researchers Receive Awards
John Spengler
John Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation in the Department of Environmental Health, was honored in London recently by the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health for his work to improve urban health and indoor air quality.
Spengler,
who directs the Environmental Science and Engineering Program, received
the J.W. Starkey Silver Medal, given each year to an individual who has
made outstanding contributions to promoting better health. He is currently
working with Boston officials to make housing healthier and safer for
residents and their children. In particular, he is investigating why children
in US public housing suffer higher asthma rates than the national average.
Last May, Spengler and a colleague sparked debate when they released a landmark report describing the exposure of 32 million people to air pollution from two Massachusetts coal-fired power plants. The report triggered calls by some state officials for more stringent laws governing air emissions. Spengler has engaged in similar studies of environmentally beleaguered cities in Russia and is currently analyzing data from a health study of 6,000 Russian children in nine cities to measure impacts of outdoor air pollution and housing conditions on health.
Robert Blendon
Robert Blendon, professor of health policy and management in the Department of Health Policy and Management, was recently awarded the Association of Health Services Distinguished Investigator Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The
award is given by the Academy for Health Services Research and Health
Policy. Previous winners include Joseph Newhouse, the John D. MacArthur
Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Department of Health
Policy and Management, who gave Blendon the award this year.
Blendon directs the Harvard Opinion Research Program and the Henry J.
Kaiser National Program on the Public, Health, and Social Policy through
which he studies Americans' knowledge and attitudes about domestic public
policy issues. He is recognized for his analysis of public opinion, voting
behavior, domestic and health policy issues, and national spending priorities.
