Frederick Rivara, MD, MPH was selected by the Alumni Advisory Board of the UW School of Public Health to receive the School's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award.

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. He is Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health.

His nominator wrote: "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. His work has profoundly influenced the scope and direction of the field of injury control. 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.

A key element of Dr. Rivara's success has been his outstanding ability to collaborate across academic disciplines as well as with policy-makers in government and non-governmental agencies at every level. He has co-authored three books and published over 400 articles, book chapters, technical reports, and monographs. Dr. Rivara has been honored as an educator, health researcher, clinician, journal editor, and child health advocate.

The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented on June 12, during the School's annual Awards Ceremony and Graduation Celebration.