Joint Center's Wilhelmina Leigh Honored for Research on Teen Reproductive Health

11/12/2003

From: Liselle Yorke of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, 202-789-6366 or lyorke@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 -- Dr. Wilhelmina Leigh, a Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies senior research associate, was honored by the National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention, Inc. (NOAPPP) at its annual conference yesterday in Arlington, VA. She received the inaugural award for "Outstanding Contribution in Promoting Science-Based Practices in Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs" for her "notable and unique" focus on African American reproductive health issues.

In announcing the award, Karen Canova, NOAPPP's associate director, said: "Dr. Leigh's emphasis on the bald facts and presenting them in user-friendly formats and in a variety of venues is viewed by NOAPPP as a critically important and essential activity in the field of adolescent health and pregnancy prevention."

Dr. Leigh's latest publication, The Reproductive Health of African American Adolescents: What We Know and What We Don't Know, highlights good news for African American teens: declining pregnancy and childbirth rates and increasing condom use. The report and companion factsheets are available at the Joint Center's website, http://www.jointcenter.org/publications.

At the Joint Center, Dr. Leigh specializes in health policy research and has also conducted analyses related to substance abuse treatment, access to health care, and women's health. She has also participated in the work of the center's Health Policy Institute which is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Her other publications include Women of Color Health Data Book: Adolescents to Seniors, HIV/AIDS Prevention Education for African American Youth: Approaches, Issues, and Recommendations, and Achieving Equitable Access: Studies of Health Care Issues Affecting Hispanics and African Americans.

Dr. Leigh received her Ph.D. in economics from the Johns Hopkins University and her A.B., also in economics, from Cornell University and has been an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance since 1997.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, conducts research and analyses on public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other minorities, promotes their involvement in the governance process, and operates programs that create coalitions within the minority, business, and diverse communities. For more information, visit http://www.jointcenter.org.