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Peterson named Kenan Professor

April 23, 2009

Dr. Herbert Peterson

Herbert Peterson, MD, has been named a W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of maternal and child health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. These endowed faculty positions are awarded to outstanding scholars and teachers at the university.

Peterson is a professor and chair of the School's maternal and child health department and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. He also is a fellow at the Cecil B. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC.

"Bert Peterson is regarded around the world as an authority on women's reproductive health and a leader in developing evidence-based guidelines that are accepted around the world. Such a level of esteem is striking in itself," said Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, dean of the public health school.

"But even more noteworthy is that Bert is not just admired and respected; he is beloved," Rimer said. "We at the School are fortunate to have access to his knowledge and talents. The esteemed designation of Kenan Distinguished Professor could not be more well-deserved."

Peterson is known nationally and internationally for his work in women's reproductive health, epidemiology, health policy and evidence-based decision-making. Before he joined the UNC School of Public Health faculty in 2004, he held research and administrative positions with the World Health Organization, U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the course of 20 years.

He was elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine in October 2007 and received the Distinguished Service Medal in 1999 from the U.S. Public Health Service. Peterson also led UNC's efforts in the 2008 designation of the School's Department of Maternal and Child Health as a new World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center. He will direct this global initiative to promote women and children's health by translating research into improved policies, programs, and practices.

Kenan endowed professorships were created through a 1917 bequest from Mary Lily Kenan Flagler Bingham to honor her father and uncle, Thomas S. Kenan and James Graham Kenan. The professorships have been credited with attracting or retaining a large number of outstanding faculty members and adding substantially to UNC's high academic standing.

Other Kenan professors in the Gillings School of Global Public Health are: Gerardo Heiss, MD, PhD, Kenan professor of epidemiology; Mark Sobsey, PhD, Kenan professor of environmental sciences and engineering; James Swenberg, DVM, PhD, Kenan professor of environmental sciences and engineering; and Steven Zeisel, MD, PhD, Kenan professor of nutrition.

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UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.

Last updated September 08, 2009

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