Deborah B. Prothrow-Stith, M.D.

1998 Solomon Carter Fuller Award recipient,

Lecture Title: Violence Prevention: A Public Health Mandate to Save Our Children

Dr. Prothrow-Stith pursued her undergraduate studies at Spelman College, majoring in mathematics. After graduating in 1975, she earned her M.D. from Harvard University Medical School in 1979. Currently, Dr. Prothrow-Stith serves as Dean and Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Previously, she held the position of Commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dr. Prothrow-Stith is renowned for developing the first violence prevention curriculum for schools and communities, titled Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents, and co-authoring Deadly Consequences, a book that addresses violence as a public health issue.

As a distinguished public health leader, Dr. Prothrow-Stith has played a pivotal role in numerous local and national initiatives, including the Community Violence Prevention Project and the National Coalition of Survivors for Violence Prevention. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Secretary's Award for Exceptional Achievement in Public Service from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, she was appointed to the National Commission on Crime Control and Prevention in 1995. In 1998, Dr. Prothrow-Stith was honored with the prestigious Solomon Carter Fuller Award.