Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC's Today, will receive the 2003 Julius B. Richmond Award from HSPH at the Harvard School of Public Health Leadership Council luncheon on Tuesday, October 21 at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA. The award is the highest honor conferred by the School.

Couric's series "Confronting Colon Cancer," which aired on NBC's Today in March 2000, had a profound impact on public awareness of colorectal cancer and prevention strategies. As part of the series, Couric underwent a colonoscopy on camera to help demystify the exam for viewers. That same month, along with Lilly Tartikoff and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Couric launched the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) in an effort to end the threat of colon cancer through education, new research and regular medical screenings. As a result of the attention that NCCRA and NBC's Today focused on colorectal cancer, the number of colonoscopy screenings nationwide increased by almost 20 percent. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System and University of Iowa, who measured the change, refer to this as "the Couric Effect."

"It is far less costly in human and financial terms to prevent disease than to have to treat it, and Ms. Couric has used her media stature and trusted name to inform millions about opportunities to prevent cancer," said HSPH Dean Barry Bloom. "She has performed a truly national service for which we are privileged to honor her."

In 2001, Couric was honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody award for the Today series, and the piece contributed to NBC News' 2001 Edward R. Murrow award for Overall Excellence for the news department.

"Katie Couric has courageously and unselfishly promoted the power of prevention to save lives," said Howard Koh, director of the Division of Public Health Practice. "We all honor her as a public health hero."

The Julius B. Richmond Award seeks to pay tribute to an individual who--like Richmond--has promoted and achieved high standards for public health conditions in vulnerable populations. Richmond was U.S. Surgeon General from 1977 to 1981 and was the first National Director of the Head Start Program. He is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Health Policy Emeritus at Harvard University. Last year's recipient of the award was Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

The award will be conferred at the inaugural meeting of the HSPH Leadership Council, which brings together members of the School's smaller advisory councils and other individuals who offer a broad range of expertise and influence to the School and who are helping to develop new resources and financial support for HSPH. Harvard President Lawrence Summers will be the keynote speaker. Dean Bloom and Dean for Academic Affairs James Ware will co-host the day.