Press Room

DR. LISA F. WADDELL RECEIVES THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH OFFICIALS’ “SWEARINGEN AWARD”

(Arlington, VA) 10-19-2009 – Last week, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) presented the Swearingen Award to Dr. Lisa F. Waddell MPH, Deputy Commissioner for Health Services with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, at the ASTHO Annual Meeting, in Vienna, Virginia.

Since 1979, the Noble J. Swearingen Award, named for a former Executive Director of ASTHO, has been bestowed on one individual in public health administration who has ten or more years of experience in a state health agency and five or more years in service to the ASTHO Management Committee or in some other capacity.

Dr. Waddell overseas a central office of ten divisions and numerous branches in Columbia and thirteen health districts that provide public health services throughout the state. She works closely with the state commissioner on other issues of agency importance, such as policy development, legislative and organizational issues. Some of her leadership accomplishments include enhancing the department's development opportunities for employees, including participation in the Southeast Regional Public Health Leadership Institute and the Management Academy for Public Health; establishing the Deputy Commissioner's Minority Health Internship; strengthening health service's capacity to address the oral health needs of children; strengthening children's injury prevention programs; and ensuring a strengthened and focused effort to address health disparities.