Deborah Prothrow-Stith facts for kids
Deborah Prothrow-Stith is an American doctor and a leader in public health. She is currently the Dean and a Professor at Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine in Los Angeles.
Dr. Prothrow-Stith is known for her important work in seeing youth violence as a health problem, not just a crime issue. She developed a program called "The Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents," which is now used in schools across the United States and other countries. She has also written several books, including Deadly Consequences and Murder Is No Accident.
In 1987, she was appointed by Governor Michael Dukakis to be the Commissioner of Public Health for Massachusetts. She was the first woman to hold this position. She also worked at Harvard School of Public Health, where she helped create new health programs.
Early Life and Education
Deborah Prothrow-Stith was born on February 6, 1954, in Marshall, Texas. She grew up mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father worked for an insurance company. She finished high school in Houston, Texas.
After high school, she chose to attend Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied mathematics and graduated in 1975. Later, she went on to Harvard University Medical School and became a medical doctor in 1979.
Career Highlights
When Dr. Prothrow-Stith worked as a doctor in Boston, she saw many young people hurt by violence. She realized that treating injuries was not enough. She believed that youth violence should be treated like a public health problem, similar to how we deal with diseases. She wanted to prevent violence from happening in the first place.
She helped start a movement to prevent violence in Boston and across the country. Her "Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents" teaches young people how to avoid violence. This program is now used in schools everywhere.
After her medical training, she taught at Boston University School of Medicine. She also worked at a health center in a low-income area of Boston, helping teenagers.
In 1987, she made history when she was appointed by Governor Michael Dukakis. She became the first woman Commissioner of Public Health for the state of Massachusetts. In this role, she created the first office focused on preventing violence within a state health department. She also expanded programs to prevent HIV/AIDS and increased drug treatment services.
In 1991, she published her book, Deadly Consequences: How Violence Is Destroying Our Teenage Population and a Plan to Begin Solving the Problem. This book was one of the first to explain youth violence from a public health point of view to a wide audience. In 1995, President Bill Clinton asked her to join the National Commission on Crime Control and Prevention.
Dr. Prothrow-Stith has also advised many healthcare organizations. She was a professor and associate dean at Harvard School of Public Health. She helped raise over $14 million for health programs there.
Personal Life
Deborah Prothrow-Stith is married to Charles Richard Stith. He is a professor at Boston University and has also served as a U.S. Ambassador. They lived in Tanzania when her husband was the U.S. Ambassador there.
Awards
Dr. Prothrow-Stith has received many awards for her important work:
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Exceptional Achievement in Public Service Award (1989)
- American Psychiatric Association's Solomon Carter Fuller Award (1998)
- World Health Day Award (1993)
- She has received ten honorary doctorates, which means universities have given her special degrees to honor her achievements.
- In 2003, she was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a very respected group of health experts.
- In 2017, the LA County Board of Supervisors named her Woman of the Year for the 2nd District.
