SIRC director recipient of national award
Flavio Marsiglia, director of the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC) in ASU’s College of Public Programs, will receive a national award in Washington D.C. next month for his outstanding contributions to advancing the field of prevention science.
The Society for Prevention Research will present Marsiglia with the 2012 Community, Culture and Prevention Science Award at its 20th annual meeting on May 31. Recipients of this national award are recognized for work to enhance understanding of and the development of, and adaptation of effective prevention strategies for traditionally underserved populations, including racial and ethnic groups.
“I am humbled by my peers’ recognition,” said Marsiglia, who is also a Distinguished Foundation Professor of Cultural Diversity and Health at ASU’s School of Social Work. “I am also happy because this award will bring attention to the work being conducted at the SIRC, the School of Social Work, the College of Public Programs and ASU. This is also an acknowledgment of the very rewarding and fruitful research community partnerships we have developed.”
The Society for Prevention Research is an organization dedicated to advancing scientific investigation on the etiology and prevention of social, physical and mental health, and academic problems and on the translation of that information to promote health and well being. The multi-disciplinary membership of SPR is international and includes scientists, practitioners, advocates, administrators, and policy makers who value the conduct and dissemination of prevention science worldwide.
"This award is so fitting because the applied research Dr. Marsiglia has advanced embodies the aspirations of ASU as an agent of change in the world,” said Jonathan Kopell, dean of ASU's College of Public Programs and director of the college's School of Public Affairs. “Under his leadership, SIRC has emerged as a leader in the field not only in terms of understanding health disparities but in innovating solutions to vexing problems that positively affect countless lives. We are fortunate to have Flavio Marsiglia as a colleague and proud of this richly deserved recognition."
Marsiglia is the founding director and principal Investigator of SIRC, a national center of excellence funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). SIRC’s mission is “To generate use-inspired research on the social and cultural determinants of health in partnership with communities of the Southwest to prevent, reduce and eliminate health disparities.”
He received his doctorate in social work from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and his MSW from the School of Social Work at the University of Uruguay. A prolific writer, Marsiglia has authored and co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, numerous book chapters and has co-authored a book titled "Diversity, Oppression and Change: Culturally Grounded Social Work." He has received several NIH awards supporting his program of research and directs SIRC’s global health initiative. He serves on numerous scientific editorial boards, NIH scientific review boards, and has been elected to serve on boards of national professional organizations such as the Society for Social Work and Research and the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research.