Public Health Research Assistant Recognized

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2010) − Rick Ingram, a research assistant at the Center for Public Health Systems and Services Research (CPHSSR) at the University of Kentucky, was chosen by the American Public Health Association (APHA) Health Administration Section as one of three students nationally who submitted outstanding abstracts to advance the field of public health administration.

The abstract, titled “The Correlation Between State Public Health System Performance and Certain State Public Health Agency Characteristics,” describes the results of research conducted by Ingram and Dr. Martha Riddell, along with other students at UK. Together, they examined the relationship between various characteristics of state public health agencies and measures of state public health system performance. The research seeks to start the process of building a firm evidence base to determine the characteristics of state public health agencies which may have an influence on high performing state public health systems.

"This award is certainly a surprise and quite an honor," Ingram said. "However, the honor really goes to our research team. It is the result of the sustained efforts from the UK CPHSSR to advance the science and practice of public health."

Dr. Stephen W. Wyatt, Dean, said, “the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky is fortunate that outstanding students like Rick Ingram have chosen to obtain their doctoral training here. They soon find they have the opportunity to work closely with some stellar faculty, and be involved in some exciting research, like this research by Mr. Ingram and Dr. Riddell."

Ingram received his award at the APHA annual meeting, held Nov. 6-11 in Philadelphia.