December 9, 2024
Julie Jacobson Vann, PhD, MS, RN, has been honored with the Lillian Wald Service Award by the Public Health Nurse section of the American Public Health Association. This award was presented during the annual APHA conference on October 29th in Minneapolis, MN, recognizing Dr. Jacobson Vann’s exceptional contributions to public health.
The Lillian Wald Service Award is named after Lillian Wald, a trailblazer in American community nursing. Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City in 1893, revolutionizing public health care delivery and coining the term “public health nurse.” This award celebrates individuals who embody her legacy through advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and efforts to improve public health on a systemic level.
Dr. Jacobson Vann is an Associate Professor and Sustainability Liaison at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing, where she also serves on the Carolina Sustainability Council. Her career spans diverse roles in health services, including research, academic teaching, public health service delivery, and health services administration. She is currently focused on advancing sustainability in health care, working to integrate environmental considerations into health systems.
Dr. Jacobson Vann’s recent work includes a vaccination-related systematic literature review conducted in collaboration with Cochrane South Africa and the South African Research Council. She has also evaluated Medicaid demonstration programs, analyzing their outcomes, costs, and health services utilization.
Her extensive research and advocacy include projects with nationally renowned organizations, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This award highlights her enduring commitment to advancing public health and sustainability for the benefit of communities worldwide.
