One of our Department's voluntary adjunct faculty members, Dr. Bruce G. Gellin, was the recipient of the 2015 Outstanding Physician Serving in the Federal Executive Branch in Career Public Service award as part of the American Medical Association's Dr. Nathan Davis Awards presented on February 24th in Washington D.C.
These awards are presented for "outstanding contributions 'to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health' and awarded to elected and career public servants in national, state and local governments."
Dr. Gellin is the deputy assistant secretary for health, and the director of the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Highlights of his leadership include updating the National Vaccine Plan in 2010, which is the nation's roadmap for a 21st century vaccine and immunization enterprise, and serving as the principal architect of HHS' first pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan in 2005 when the H5 avian flu struck. In 2009, during the H1N1 pandemic, he played an instrumental role in expanding the nation's vaccine safety.
As one of the nation's principal spokespersons on vaccines and immunizations, Dr. Gellin effectively uses his communication skills to translate medicine and science to inform the public, Congress, and the media in addition to scientific and public health audiences.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina, the Weill Cornell University Medical College, and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. Gellin is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases and is currently on the faculty here at Vanderbilt University Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
Congratulations, Dr. Gellin!