Gielen Named Health Behavior Fellow (web article)

Andrea Carlson Gielen, ScD, ScM, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was recently elected an American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) Fellow.

Gielen, a professor in the School’s Department of Health, Behavior and Society, focuses her research on the development and evaluation of community- and clinic-based programs that address health behavior problems affecting women and children, primarily among low-income families in urban areas. She also examines the application of behavioral sciences to childhood injury control and domestic violence prevention programs, in addition to studying the relationship between violence and HIV risk.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by your colleagues in this way, especially because it provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of behavior in public health, and the need for continued research on promoting healthier and safer families and communities,” said Gielen.

In order to be named an AAHB Fellow, a researcher must have published a minimum of 50 original data-based research studies or literature reviews, research syntheses or research theory papers in national or international journals. A fellow must also have presented at least 75 scientific papers at professional meetings, received 25 research grants or a total $1.5 million in grants as a principal investigator. Confirmation as a fellow also requires a two-thirds majority vote by the AAHB Board of Directors.

“Being named as an AAHB Fellow is a very high honor reflecting a career of outstanding achievement. Dr. Gielen is a true leader in developing interventions to risk behaviors and injury; her effective interventions lead to lower burdens of disease and disability, and improved quality of life. We are indeed honored to have Dr. Gielen on our faculty,” said David R. Holtgrave, PhD, professor and chair of the Bloomberg School’s Department of Health, Behavior and Society.

Gielen, who joined the Academy in 2001, will be formally recognized at the annual AAHB meeting in March 2006.