11-26-2008

Acker Wins Public Health Award

Associate History Professor Caroline Acker will receive the 2008 Benjamin Rush Individual Public Health Award Jan. 31 at the Allegheny County Medical Society Gala at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh. Established in 1947, this award honors a layperson who has made an outstanding contribution to the betterment, health and welfare of citizens in Allegheny County. 

In 1995 Acker and James Crow co-founded Prevention Point Pittsburgh (PPP), a needle exchange program aimed at reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections in intravenous drug users. At the time, providing this service was illegal, and Acker and other volunteers risked arrest to provide clean needles to drug users in the Hill District once a week.

Dedicated to improving public health for vulnerable populations, her efforts to legalize needle exchange were realized in 2001 when a needle exchange program was authorized by the Allegheny County Health Department. Furthermore, in 2008 Allegheny County Council passed an ordinance to regulate the operation of a needle exchange.

Because of Acker’s advocacy, more than 5,000 active drug users have accessed disease prevention services, and PPP has grown to include case management services, risk reduction education, crisis counseling and intervention, overdose prevention and free on-site HIV/Hepatitis C testing.

“By challenging the preconceived notions of how individuals struggling with addiction are viewed, Caroline works to bring health services to a group in society that often has no voice,” said Dr. Melinda Campopiano, who nominated Acker for the award.

Bruce Gerson