Golisano Children’s Hospital Clinician-Researcher Wins AHA Award

Golisano Children’s Hospital Clinician-Researcher Wins AHA Award

The American Heart Association named local volunteer Stephen Cook, M.D., M.P.H. “Science Advocate of the Year.” The award was presented at the association’s annual Congressional Lobby Day,in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 11, 2011.

“Dr. Cook is passionate about ending childhood obesity and has been invaluable as a volunteer, serving as an advocate and offering his expertise,” said Bonnie Webster, Executive Director of the American Heart Association’s Rochester Division. “He has joined forces with the American Heart Association to ensure that his research findings actually help children and families in addressing this most critical health concern of our time.”

Cook, an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is a strong advocate for healthy living and has served as the president of the local chapter of the American Heart Association. He is Chairman of the Childhood Obesity Committee for the New York State chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the National Advocacy Task Force of The Obesity Society and serves on state and national committees of the American Heart Association. Cook was also instrumental in developing the Healthi Kids initiative in Monroe County and its policy agenda to reverse childhood obesity. This coalition involved community, government and academic sectors to increase physical activity and improve nutrition for children.

As a member of the American Heart Association’s You’re the Cure nationwide network of volunteers, Cook is also actively involved in the association’s public policy agenda and dedicated to finding cures for heart disease and stroke.

The Science Advocate of the Year is a national award is given to a medical professional who is actively engaged in communicating with lawmakers on behalf of the association’s heart and stroke issues. The honoree has served as a role model for other science advocates, recruited advocates and encouraged others to get involved. In addition to his work on childhood obesity, Cook has also advocated for tobacco controls, funding for heart disease and stroke prevention programs, and CPR and AED training and awareness.

 *  The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center