Shown from left to right are John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, commissioner of Tennessee Department of Health, Dr. Stuart M. Polly, Memphis physician and chairman of Tennessee Medical Association Public Health Committee, Dr. William Schaffner, and Paula Masters, president of the Tennessee Public Health Association
The Tennessee Public Health Association and the Tennessee Medical Association have created a joint award to recognize individuals who demonstrate extraordinary efforts in the advancement of public health in Tennessee. The William Schaffner, MD Award is named after the chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University.
TPHA and TMA officials presented the inaugural award to Dr. Schaffner yesterday during TPHA’s annual awards luncheon. The two organizations will accept nominations from their members on an annual basis and a selection committee comprising three representatives from each organization will make the final decision. TPHA and TMA will honor the deserving individual during a joint ceremony each year.
“The purpose of this award is two-fold: We want to honor Dr. Schaffner for his outstanding dedication and service in the field of public health, and also recognize other individuals who model similar characteristics,” said Doris Spain, TPHA Executive Director. “Dr. Schaffner is an inspiration to physicians and everyone who works to advance public health in Tennessee.”
Dr. Schaffner has been with Vanderbilt University since 1969, after completing his residency and chief residency there. He earned an undergraduate degree from Yale and completed medical school at Cornell University. His long list of career accolades includes The William Schaffner Teaching Award in Infectious Diseases, established in 1999 by the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.