Deborah Prothrow-Stith

Deborah Prothrow-Stith (born 1954) is an American physician, public health advocate, and the author of several books addressing public health issues. She is best known for her work in violence prevention among youth and for her role in defining violence as a public health issue.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Prothrow-Stith was born in Marshall, Texas in 1954. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia at a young age, where she attended public schools. She later attended Spelman College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1979.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her medical degree, Prothrow-Stith began her career as a resident in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital. She later became the Commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making her the first woman and the youngest person to hold that position.

In 1987, Prothrow-Stith published her first book, Violence Prevention: New Directions for Health Care. The book was one of the first to address violence as a public health issue, and it has since become a seminal work in the field.

Prothrow-Stith has also served as a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, where she developed a violence prevention curriculum for schools. She has also worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization and the United Nations on issues related to violence and public health.

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

Prothrow-Stith has received numerous awards for her work in public health and violence prevention. These include the American Public Health Association's Award for Excellence, the National Medical Association's Scroll of Merit, and the Surgeon General's Medallion.