Susan P. Baker Named “Public Health Hero” for Injury Prevention Research

Susan P. Baker, MPH, a professor with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Injury Research and Policy, was honored as one of twelve “Public Health Heroes” by Research!America for her work promoting injury prevention and highway safety.  In celebration of “Public Health Thank You Day,” Research!America selected federal, state and local public health professionals whose work has contributed to the overall health and safety of the general public.

An epidemiologist in the School’s department of Health Policy and Management, Baker is an advocate of injury prevention policy changes at both the national and state levels. Her research in injury prevention and highway safety has resulted in national passenger protection laws, saving thousands of lives, particularly those of infants and children. Today, along with colleagues from the Bloomberg School, Baker is working to strengthen graduated driver licensing and to eliminate the use of alcohol by drivers—a primary cause of injury and death resulting from car crashes.

 “Without U.S. investment in public health research, things simply won't happen,” says Baker.  “We need a strong health department and public health workforce if we are going to do right by Americans.”

For more information about "Public Health Thank You Day" or for the complete list of award recipients, please visit Research!America.—Natalie Wood-Wright