Each year, the Jefferson County Department of Health honors a partner organization with the Public Health Champion Award, celebrating their impactful contributions to public health in the community. For 2025, this prestigious recognition has been awarded to the UAB School of Public Health.
During the annual State of the County address in April, David Hicks, D.O., MPH, Health Officer for Jefferson County, presented the award to Paul C. Erwin, M.D., DrPH, dean of the School of Public Health. In his remarks, Hicks provided a brief overview of the school’s history and explained that the award honors the school’s “continued commitment to educating past, current and future public health leaders and professionals, conducting impactful research and collaborating with communities in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond to promote health and wellbeing.”
“I am honored to have received this award on behalf of the School of Public Health at UAB,” said Erwin. “This demonstrates a collective impact between our passionate faculty, dedicated staff and bright students who are working to educate and better our communities every day. We are glad to have such a great partnership with the Jefferson County Department of Health and thank them for this recognition.”