Mailman School Honors City of New York for Public Health Initiatives

The Mailman School of Public Health honored the City of New York under Mayor Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley for its leadership in public health programs that have become a model for the world.

Dean Linda Fried, MD, MPH, De Lamar Professor of Public Health presented the award with Dr. John W. Rowe, chair of the School’s Board of Overseers. “New York City’s commitment to provide all its citizens with a healthy environment is unmatched anywhere,” said Dean Fried. “Whether it be the City’s ban on smoking or increasing the legal age to 21 for purchasing tobacco; building bike lanes to promote exercise; mandating calorie counts on fast food menus; eliminating trans fats from restaurants; expanding HIV testing and treatment; and installing hybrid buses to reduce pollution, Mayor Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Farley have been visionaries of public health.”
 
The City’s innovative public health programming during the last 12 years has demonstrated the power of using science to inform policy. For example, life expectancy for New Yorkers now stands at 81 years, almost 2 ½ years above the national average.
 
“We are proud of our partnership with the City and especially delighted to honor the Big Apple tonight for its achievements under the leadership of Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- for demonstrating steadfast commitment to combatting today’s most pressing public health issues, for its foresight in recognizing that the health issues of tomorrow need to be addressed today, and for being a world leader in promoting a vision of urban health that many thought unattainable,” said Dr. Rowe.
 
In accepting the award, Commissioner Farley said, “I am deeply honored to accept this award from the Mailman School of Public Health on behalf of the City and Mayor Bloomberg especially because I see NYC’s success as part Mailman’s success. To achieve our initiatives, we need smart employees, trained in science and skills of public health – the knowledge that comes from research done by schools of public health. The Mailman School of Public Health provides both of these.”
 
Each year, the Mailman School educates more than 1,200 students who become the next generation of public health leaders. This past year, 34% of the interns in the New York City Department of Health Research Training Program come from the Mailman School, many of whom are hired full-time at the Department.