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Researcher named Canadian health hero
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November 27, 2002
David MacLean’s contributions to health promotion, disease prevention and public health policy on a regional, national and international scale have garnered him two prestigious awards. The SFU professor and director of the university’s institute for health research and education has been named one of 17 Canadian health heroes by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
A coalition of countries representing 14 per cent of the world’s current population, the PAHO, formed in 1902, is the oldest international public health agency in the world. The PAHO recently bestowed the title of public health hero on people in each of its 35 member countries who have made substantial contributions to public health.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada also recently awarded MacLean its 2002 award of merit. The award recognizes MacLean’s leadership internationally, nationally and provincially in promoting the importance and value of research in primary health care with special emphasis on heart health.
MacLean was behind the creation of a large community-based intervention program aimed at preventing and controlling heart disease in Nova Scotia. That program eventually became a demonstration program for similar strategies throughout Canada and in Europe. MacLean is currently a member of the board of the Fraser Health Authority, one of five provincial health authorities in BC.
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CONTACT
David MacLean, 604.291.5361, dmaclean@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
A coalition of countries representing 14 per cent of the world’s current population, the PAHO, formed in 1902, is the oldest international public health agency in the world. The PAHO recently bestowed the title of public health hero on people in each of its 35 member countries who have made substantial contributions to public health.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada also recently awarded MacLean its 2002 award of merit. The award recognizes MacLean’s leadership internationally, nationally and provincially in promoting the importance and value of research in primary health care with special emphasis on heart health.
MacLean was behind the creation of a large community-based intervention program aimed at preventing and controlling heart disease in Nova Scotia. That program eventually became a demonstration program for similar strategies throughout Canada and in Europe. MacLean is currently a member of the board of the Fraser Health Authority, one of five provincial health authorities in BC.
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CONTACT
David MacLean, 604.291.5361, dmaclean@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca