Congratulations to Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health faculty members Robin Harris, Neil MacKinnon, and Cecilia Rosales for their recent accolades.

Holding the Faculty Excellence Award from WISE, Dr. Robin Harris is seen here with doctoral students in Epidemiology (L to R): Yuda Chongpison, Kristen Pogreba-Brown (Class of 2013), and Stephanie Koch.

Robin Harris, PhD, MPH, professor of Epidemiology, was honored by Women in Science & Engineering with the 2013 Faculty Excellence Award at the 7th Annual WISE banquet on April 25. Dr. Harris was nominated for the award by doctoral student Stephanie Koch (Epidemiology) for her skills as a teacher, mentor and scientific investigator.

In her nomination letter, Ms. Koch wrote, “Dr. Harris is a woman of many roles and even more skills. In her role as a teacher she fosters a learning environment where students can feel respected and encouraged to think for themselves. In her role as a mentor, she goes beyond encouraging and assisting new scientist in their scholarly and career pursuits but also takes an interest in the mentees as a person. In her role as a lead investigator/scientist at the Skin Cancer Institute at the UA Cancer Center, not only does she conduct valuable research into prevention and disease control but she also devotes additional time to developing relationships through the community. With these relationships she better understands the needs of the community and is better equipped to tackle the community’s health issues.”

Neil MacKinnon, PhD

Neil MacKinnon, PhD, professor in the community, environment and policy division and director of the Center for Rural Health, will receive the Top Pediatric Abstract Award as co-author of the study “Medication-Related Emergency Department Visits in Pediatrics: A Prospective Observational Study.” The award will be presented at the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Annual Scientific Meeting being held in Vancouver, June 1-5, 2013.

Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS, director of Phoenix Programs and associate professor in the community, environment and policy division, will receive the Latino Excellence in Health & Sciences Award from Valle Del Sol. The award will be presented at the Profiles of Success Hispanic Leadership Celebration on May 31 at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS

Dr. Rosales has also been named to the UA Academic Leadership Institute Class of 2014. The ALI was established in 2010 with funding from a private donor to enhance and diversify the University’s leadership capacity. The University has set ambitious research, educational, and outreach goals. To help achieve those goals, the UA Academic Leadership Institute provides a yearlong professional development program for twenty-five faculty and campus leaders, including academic and administrative department heads, associate and assistant deans, and individuals identified as emerging leaders. The program serves both to strengthen the skills of those who are already in leadership positions and to provide a venue for career development for those who are seeking opportunities to lead.