Dr. Buescher awarded 2004 National MCH Epidemiology Award

Dr. Buescher is nationally reknowned for his creativity in linking existing health databases for MCH program planning, evaluation, and surveillance purposes. This work has established North Carolina as one of the leaders in the use of linked databases for applied research in MCH and has paved the way for the development and enhancement of many state and local public health programs. His evaluations of the state’s maternity care coordination program, state WIC services, and other programs have served as models for researchers in other states seeking to conduct similar assessments. In addition, he is the PRAMS Project Director for North Carolina and has guided the PRAMS program since its inception in the state in 1996.

Dr. Buescher has been a leader in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information about minority health and health disparities in North Carolina, particularly in the area of MCH. His work has provided valuable data that have been used by the North Carolina Division of Public Health to document the persistent racial/ethnic gap in health indicators. The contributions he has made over the years to local public health programs have been equally exemplary. He played a lead role in the development and analysis of county-level health status indicators for the North Carolina Community Health Assessment Initiative and the Healthy Carolinians Program. His achievements in translating complex data into easy-to-understand language and his ability to present relevant data in a way that can be applied to effective practice have long been recognized and appreciated by local health department staff.

As a Research Fellow with the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and an adjunct associate professor with the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Buescher has also been influential in training students and young professionals interested in pursuing careers in MCH Epidemiology. He has served on doctoral committees and facilitates a variety of MCH faculty and student research projects by providing assistance with accessing and analyzing the rich array of state public health databases, some of which he designed and developed himself.

Dr. Buescher’s many years of outstanding service and his numerous notable accomplishments make him a worthy recipient of this award.

Photo Caption: Dr. Milt Kotelchuck, former professor and UNC MCH chair, presents the award to Dr. Buescher at the award ceremony.

For further information please contact Marcia Roth either by phone at 966-7735 or by email at marcia_roth@unc.edu