Students, Faculty, Alumni Honored at Hooding Ceremony

The Arnold School of Public Health recognized exceptional achievements by students, faculty and alumni during its 2008 Hooding Ceremony on May 8 at the Koger Center for the Arts.

A Wisconsin physician recognized for his efforts in preventive cardiology and a USC researcher who has focused on breast cancer and health disparities are the recipients of the 2008 Norman J. and Gerry Sue Arnold alumni awards.

The presentations were made Thursday, May 8 at the Arnold School’s 21st annual Hooding Ceremony at the Koger Center for the Arts.

The Norman J. Arnold Medal went to Dr. Patrick E. McBride, a tenured professor and associate dean for students at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. McBride earned his master’s in public health from the Arnold School in 1982.

The Gerry Sue Arnold Award went to Dr. Swann Arp Adams, a research assistant professor in USC’s Cancer Prevention & Control Program. Adams earned her doctorate in epidemiology from the Arnold School in 2003.

The awards are an annual feature of the Hooding Ceremony. They were established by the school’s leading benefactor and his wife and carry a cash award in addition to the recognition.

McBride has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Today McBride co-directs a comprehensive clinical preventive cardiology program with more than 20 professional staff members. The program includes inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, a preventive cardiology/cholesterol clinic (one of the first in the U.S.), a diabetes prevention program, and many other clinical initiatives for people at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Working with the American Heart Association and the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, McBride was a leader in developing and implementing statewide teaching programs on cholesterol screening and management and smoking cessation for physicians, nurses, dietitians and physician assistants.

He is the recipient of 11 local and national teaching awards, including a prestigious Distinguished Education Award from the University of Wisconsin.

Adams is a Tennessee native who earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee School of Biomedical Sciences.

Her dissertation work investigated methodological challenges between physical activity and breast cancer.

Last summer she worked as a key author for a special issue of the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association which served to provide critical epidemiologic information for breast, prostate, and esophageal cancers within the state.

In his nomination, Adam’s supervisor, Dr. James Herbert, described her as gifted and highly motivated with the potential to become an “academic superstar.”

The Norman J. Arnold Medal honors an alumnus who graduated more than 10 years ago. It carries a cash award of $2,500 and a bronze medal.

The Gerry Sue Arnold Medal honors an alumnus who graduated within the last 10 years. It carries a cash award of $2,500 and a commemorative plaque.

McBride and Adams were selected by a committee of the Arnold School’s Alumni Council from among nominees submitted by faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the Arnold School of Public Health.

The alumni awards are the latest example of the Arnold family’s philanthropy. Norman Arnold made a major gift in 2000 to endow the University of South Carolina’s School of Public Health, which now bears his name.

Sarah A. Huggins of the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, was presented the Jeffrey Keith Mattison Outstanding Achievement Award.

This award is presented each year to the master's level graduating student who best exemplifies the special characteristics of Jeffrey Keith Mattison, an epidemiology and biostatistics student who died in the fall of 1987.

Huggins grew up in Florence and graduated from Clemson University before coming to the Arnold School. Here she has maintained a 3.98 GPA while concentrating on coursework and research into teen pregnancy, STD, and HIV Prevention. Her career goal is to work for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control or a similar health agency.

Dr. Felipe Lobelo of the Department of Exercise Science was selected for the Doctoral Achievement Award. Dr. Lobelo, is a native of Colombia, where he earned a medical degree in 2002 and did advanced studies in epidemiology from 2002-2004 at the Universidad Del Rosario Medical School in Bogota. Lobelo, who has been researching health implications of physical activity in youth, is a candidate for a doctorate in exercise science. His nomination notes his success in obtaining research grants from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine.

The James A. Keith Excellence in Teaching Award went to Dr. Jim Hussey, a research associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Hussey’s nomination notes widespread support among Arnold School of Public Health faculty for his dedication to teaching and his sympathetic support for students. Students give him high marks for his quality lectures and attention to the concerns of students.

Dr. Chris Rorden, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, won the Faculty Research Award.

Rorden is director of USC’s McCausland Neuroimaging Center, which has gained an international reputation for neuroimaging research. Currently he is principal investigator and co-principal investigator on three prestigious RO1 research grants. In addition to his record as a scholar, Rorden’s nomination cited his strength as a teacher-mentor.

Arnold School Executive Associate Dean Dr. Cheryl Addy, an associate professor of biostatistics, was the recipient of the Faculty Service Award.

Addy’s nomination notes her 20 years of service to the Arnold School that includes a term as chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics. She spearheaded efforts that led to the school’s first full 7-year accreditation by CEPH, supervised the building of the new Public Health Research Center, oversaw faculty development and led the school in implementing the new USC budgetary system. She has chaired or participated in virtually every committee, standing or ad hoc, that the school has established.

Twenty new members of the Delta Omega Society also were recognized. Founded at the School of Hygiene and Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University in 1924, Delta Omega is equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa for undergraduate studies in letters.

New alumni members were: Royce H."Beebe" Adams, Tina Marie Devlin, Cheryl Der Ananian, Margaret Elizabeth Fore, Romel S. Lacson, Patrick E. McBride, Karen A. McKernan, Myra Clayton Reece, and Robert Langston Spotts.

Student members were Abdoulaye Diedhiou, Katherine Anne Fiegel, Jennifer Millett Gay, Kristian Lee Gordon, Mamie Rebecca Knight, Felipe Lobelo, Andrea Lynn Morrison, Bankole Adeyemi Olatosi, and Kristina Erin Weis.

Faculty members were Dimitar Deliyski and Daniela Friedman.

Individual departments of the Arnold School of Public Health also presented honors, including:

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders – Aaron Hasten, 2008 Outstanding Student Award in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Kerry Hershey, 2008 Outstanding Student Award in Communication Sciences and Disorders via Distance Education.

Department of Environmental Health Sciences – Outstanding Student Awards: Emily McDonald and Lucas Odom. Mc- Donald is being honored for her research and selection as a prestigious NOAA Knauss Fellow. Lucas is being honored for his research and project leadership.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics – Li Zhou: Outstanding Graduate in Biostatistics. Kristina Weis: Outstanding Graduate in Epidemiology.

Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior – 2008 Masters Student of the Year, India Dorothy Rose. 2008 Doctoral Student of the Year, Jennifer Lynn Gay. Rose has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brenau University. While at USC, she studied cancer prevention communication for older African-American men. Gay is receiving her doctorate in HPEB.

Department of Health Services Policy and Management – Michael D. Jarrett Award, Aaron O’Brien. Susie B. Yates Scholarship, Sarah Dickie. Michael E. and Sandra P. Samuels Distinguished Alumni Award, Dr. Thomas E. Brown Jr., president and CEO of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. The Jarrett award, named for the former commissioner of DHEC, goes to a MPH student with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, who demonstrates a commitment to public health and a high potential for leadership. The Yates scholarship recognizes MHA students with the highest GPA from the Carolinas and Georgia. The Samuels award honors outstanding contributions by an HSPM alumnus.

Department of Exercise Science – Outstanding Doctoral Student Felipe Lobelo. Outstanding Masters Students Jamie Mc- Clellan and Shannon Pallardy.

The school also awarded Certificates of Appreciation to students for their contributions to the Dean’s Student Advisory Council – Meredith Holzbach, Rachel Adams, Sara Powell, Michelle Johnston, Srinivasa Raghavan Madhavan, Rui Lui, Benji McCollum, Jamie McClellan, Megan Baruth, Angie Kolovos, Jessica Bellinger, Kristian Gordon, Greg Dominick and Catherine Carlestedt.