The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) is proud to announce that Peggy Hannon, PhD, MPH, professor and director of the UW Health Promotion Research Center within HSPop has been recognized by the “American Journal of Health Promotion” (AJHP) as one of the top ten most accomplished and influential women researchers and educators in the public health education and health promotion field.
“Many of the women on this list have inspired and informed the work that I do,” said Hannon. “It is a great honor to be included with these nine women doing impactful work and research.”
There are innumerable women leaders working in healthcare and public health. This “top ten” list is intended to feature top women researchers who have made specialized contributions to the field of health promotion.
“Nearly all of my research is carried out in teams that include researchers, students, and community partners,” Hannon added. “In my mind, this recognition also belongs to them, because they make the work possible and meaningful.”
Several definitions for health promotion, lifestyle medicine and population health were used to establish the criteria for selection to this list. In particular, the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health promotion informed the selection of top women researchers as those with studies that “support governments, communities and individuals to cope with and address health challenges.” Influencers accomplish this by “building healthy public policies, creating supportive environments, and strengthening community action and personal skills.” This ‘top ten’ list focused on women researchers with expertise and skills in health education, community health, patient education or counseling.
Scholarly productivity, including studies these women published in AJHP, was a prime consideration for assembling this list. Many of those featured are also exemplary teachers and administrative leaders. Says Dr. Paul Terry, Editor in Chief of AJHP, “I’m ever grateful to the many women leaders who have had a major impact on my professional development. It may be that the influence these scholars are having on the next generation of leaders in health promotion will be even more enduring than the extraordinary contributions they have been making to the health of our communities.”
The full ‘top ten’ article includes brief biographies of these honorees written by other renowned researchers in health promotion. The bios summarize how these leaders influence will be felt in the years ahead. Selection criteria included:
- Scholarly Productivity: Has an established research portfolio, including extensive scientific publications specific to health promotion interventions, policies and practice.
- Excellence in Teaching: Teaches health promotion theory and practice and has an established reputation as an exemplary teacher, advisor and academic colleague.
- Health Promotion Advocacy: Is an activist for political, economic or public policies that prevent disease and improve health at the local, state or national level.
- Executive Leadership: Holds a leadership position in an organization explicitly focused on personal, organizational and/or community health improvement.
Congratulations to each of the ten women scholars honored by the AJHP. A forthcoming issue of AJHP features twelve of the most influential women leaders in the health promotion profession.