KDHE Director Lorne A. Phillips, PhD,
Receives ASTHO Swearingen Award

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) honored Lorne A. Phillips, PhD, with the 2005 Swearingen Award during the NACCHO-ASTHO 2005 Joint Conference in June. Phillips is the State Registrar and Director of the Center for Health and Environmental Statistics for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and a national leader in the field of vital and health statistics. He has been a leader in the automation of vital records systems and is a respected expert on health information privacy and security. He has served with distinction on the ASTHO Management Committee since 1998.

"We are delighted that Lorne's contributions to public health are being recognized on the national level. He brings a wealth of information, expertise, and leadership to our state," said KDHE Secretary Roderick L. Bremby.

Phillips' service to Kansas includes overseeing statewide programs related to alcohol and drug abuse, community health, health education and public health training, vital records and vital statistics, health care data acquisition, analysis and policy development, and information resource management.

"Lorne's career exemplifies a true commitment to the betterment of public health, as he and his team help us manage the administrative and record-keeping complexities that serve as a foundation needed to promote good public health practices," said KDHE Director of Health, Howard Rodenberg, M.D., M.P.H.

Phillips received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the Oklahoma Baptist University, a master's degree from Oklahoma State University, and a doctorate from Washington State University.

The Noble J. Swearingen Award, named for a former Executive Director of ASTHO, is bestowed annually on one individual in public health administration who has ten or more years of experience in a state health agency and five or more years in service to the ASTHO Management Committee or in some other capacity.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO's members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.

Back to KDHE News Release Index