School of Rural Public Health Establishes Delta Omega Chapter: American Journal of Public Health Editor-in-Chief Speaks at Induction

The School of Rural Public Health (SRPH), part of The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, inducts its first members to the national public health honor society through the newly established Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Omega on Monday, May 12, at noon at the Texas A&M University Faculty Club. Mary Northridge, Ph.D., M.P.H., editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Public Health, will speak at the induction luncheon.
In one more accomplishment marking a year celebrating the SRPH’s fifth year of existence, the school received approval in December to establish this chapter of Delta Omega, the honorary society for graduate studies in public health. Membership in Delta Omega reflects the dedication of an individual to quality in the field of public health and to protection and advancement of the health of all people. Election to membership in Delta Omega is intended not only to recognize merit, but also to encourage further excellence in and devotion to public health work. The top 25 percent of students qualify for admission, but only 10 percent of all graduating students may be admitted. Up to three percent of faculty can also be initiated each year.
Northridge, who was appointed editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Public Health in 1999, is visiting the school to meet with faculty about a special issue of the journal that will focus on rural health. The school will be the leader in producing the issue. The American Journal of Public Health is the nation’s preeminent peer-reviewed journal on public health. Kenneth McLeroy, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs at SRPH, is chair of the journal’s editorial board.
A leading public health expert and trained epidemiologist, Northridge has held positions with both academic institutions and community health organizations. Currently, she is assistant professor at Columbia University’s Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, deputy director at the Harlem Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Community Outreach and Education Program Director at the Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan. She is also a research investigator on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Soros Foundation projects.
Delta Omega Inductees for 2003 include:
Faculty
Craig Blakely, Ph.D.
Graduating Students
Carol McDonald Davis
James R. Prescott
Graciela Castillo
Linda Sanders Clark
Sanu Somachandran
Gretchen Stryker
Jeanine M. Harris
Alumni
Jacie Volkman
Magda de la Torre
Frank Villamaria
Sowmya Ramesh
Elvia Ledezma
Jennifer Griffith
The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its five components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology and the School of Rural Public Health.