Pat Marek, Lawrie Robertson, honored for distinguished service to Public Health Sciences

Brief

Two veterans of the Public Health Sciences Division have been honored for their dedication and exceptional contributions to the division. Pat Marek, a database manager in the Youth Smoking Studies group, is the recipient of the 2004 Margaret Farwell Award for Distinguished Service, and Lawrie Robertson, PHS division administrator, is the winner of a special award that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the first Farwell award. Division Director, Dr. John Potter, presented the awards at the April 21 All-Staff Meeting.

Marek, a 26-year employee of the center, was the unanimous choice of the selection committee for his tireless work behind the scenes to ensure the quality and completion of the division's smoking-prevention research. Since 1984, he has been responsible for all of the database development and statistical program-ming for multiple projects of the Youth Smoking Studies group. Nominators praised Marek for being a "team player" with a "commitment to excellence" who has made "outstanding scientific contributions." His development of the Hutchinson Smoking Prevention Project database was described as an "invaluable national resource for continuing important research in youth smoking acquisition."

Robertson, who joined the center in 1986, was recognized as a "consensus builder" who "brings his passion for the center to his work and has worked diligently to develop the division's administrative infrastructure." Nominators praised his "collegiality and determination to foster respect for all employees" and enthusiasm for "never missing an opportunity to acknowledge the effort of others."

Center News Table of Contents