Recorded presentation

John P. Allegrante, PhD, Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Columbia University, Teachers College, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, 212-678-3960, jpa1@columbia.edu

Dr. Mayhew Derryberry became the first chief of health education at the U.S. Public Health Service in 1941 and was instrumental during his 26-year-long career in federal government in catalyzing the nation's earliest efforts in health promotion and disease prevention. Derryberry was the first to realize the important role behavioral science could play in addressing problems in public health and he engaged talented behavioral scientist, including two young social psychologists, Godfrey Hochbaum and Irwin Rosenstock, who conducted the seminal study of the role of health beliefs in explaining utilization of public health screening services. The work spawned development of the Health Belief Model, an important theoretical foundation for modern heath education practice. Derryberry himself wrote on an astonishingly wide range of topics, including the importance of immunizations, the nutritional status of children, measurement and statistical methods, the relationship between social factors and health, program evaluation, and family planning. Many of his papers are considered classics and have been collected in two published anthologies. This session will bring together contemporary health education leaders—all recipients of the PHEHP Section Mayhew Derryberry Award—to review the life and work of this important figure in the history of public health and discuss the implications of the legacy Dr. Derryberry leaves for addressing the challenges of today’s health problems.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session attendees will be able to

• Describe key biographical elements of Dr. Mayhew Derryberry’s life and career;
• Identify and summarize at least one important contribution Dr. Derryberry made during his government service; and
• Discuss the implications of Dr. Derryberry’s legacy for contemporary health education practice.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation