Georgia Editor Is in Inaugural Group Receiving Board Certification in Public Health

 

 

MARIETTA, Georgia – January 26, 2009 – The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) is pleased to announce that Dr. Michelle G. Hutchinson is in the charter group of professionals who have achieved certification in public health. Dr. Hutchinson, a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health, is president of Wordhelper (www.wordhelper.com), a Georgia-based editing service whose projects encompass textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, consumer magazine stories, award-winning novels, web content, and newsletters. Michelle is also the managing editor of Wellness for Women.

 

The inaugural Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam was administered in August 2008 to nearly 700 individuals. Professionals who sat for the exam demonstrated their commitment to furthering the profession of public health.

 

Dean Donna Petersen, Chair of the National Board of Public Health Examiners and Dean of the University of South Florida College of Public Health congratulated the charter group, saying, "First-time test takers made history – they are a part of a landmark event in the development of the profession of public health. We are grateful to each of these pioneers, and we encourage others to register for the next examination to be held in August 2009."

 

The NBPHE was launched to demonstrate that graduates from accredited schools and programs of public health have mastered required core and cross-cutting competencies and to address the need for greater recognition of public health as a health profession. Employers hiring credentialed graduates will be assured that these candidates have a fundamental breadth and depth of core public health knowledge. Dr. Charles Mahan, President of the National Board of Public Health Examiners, says, "Having a national credential for our graduates will have an impact similar to that seen by public school teachers when they started their national exam some 15 years ago: increased employability, better career ladders, better salaries, better retention, and increased portability moving around the country."

 

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