Gianfranco Pezzino receives the Samuel J. Crumbine Medal from Becky Tuttle at the Kansas Public Health Association’s Annual Conference
Wichita, Kan. – Gianfranco Pezzino, M.D., M.P.H, senior fellow and strategy team leader at the Kansas Health Institute (KHI), has been awarded the prestigious Samuel J. Crumbine Medal by the Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA). The medal, which is the highest honor given by KPHA, recognizes meritorious service at the state or national level related to improving the health and/or environment of Kansas. Pezzino was selected for the award because of his substantial contributions to the public health system in Kansas and nationally.
Pezzino manages KHI’s work on public health services and systems. His focus is on the development and dissemination of best practices for the organization, financing and delivery of public health services. His work includes supporting local public health departments in their preparation for national accreditation, and contributing to the field of applied public health services and systems research. Pezzino co-directs the Center for Sharing Public Health Services, a multi-year, multi-million dollar national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Center focuses on cross-jurisdictional sharing as a strategy to increase effectiveness and efficiency in public health.
Pezzino’s passion for public health service has spanned his career. He obtained his medical degree magna cum laude at the University of Bologna, Italy, and his master’s degree in public health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Before joining KHI, he served as state epidemiologist and medical director for the bioterrorism program with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. During that time, he was president of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. He is a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine, is board-certified in preventive medicine and public health and is certified in evaluation practice from George Washington University.
In addition to his work at KHI, Pezzino is the Shawnee County health officer, where he is responsible for guidance of the county’s health department and is the official designee for community public health incidents. He is also a site visitor for the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), which guides health departments to achieve accreditation in their communities, for excellence in public health service.
Pezzino is committed to the local community through volunteer service on the Board of the Family Service and Guidance Center, a community mental health center in Topeka that serves children.