Distinguished Alumni Award

Eighteen stellar candidates were nominated for SPH’s Distinguished Alumni award this year. Each department was represented, and the nominees live and work all over the globe, from Africa and New York City to Missouri and New Mexico. This year’s recipient, Frederick Rivara, MD, MPH, is from our own back yard.

Frederick Rivara

His nominator, Lawrence Berger, writes: “Dr. Rivara is a distinguished alumnus because of his remarkable professional achievements and his nearly three decades of service at the University of Washington.” As a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field of injury control, Dr. Rivara is devoted to improving the lives of children and adults. For example, his research on the effectiveness of bicycle helmets led to the creation of community-based bicycle helmet campaigns that have spread throughout the United States and the world.

Dr. Rivara, who received an MPH from the School’s Department of Health Services in 1980, is currently the George Adkins Professor of Pediatrics for the UW School of Medicine, where he is also Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and Head of the General Division of the Department of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, for the School of Public Health. He is married to J’May B. Rivara, Lecturer and Practicum Coordinator for the UW School of Social Work, and they have two grown children, Matthew and Margaret.

The award will be presented on June 12, during the School’s graduation exercises at Hogness Auditorium.