From press release

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sarah Suh, a senior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, and Jeffrey Wang, a junior at Rockford Auburn High School, were named Regional Finalists in the prestigious Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition (www.collegeboard.com/yes ^[1]), the nation’s leading public health competition for high school students. They will compete for college scholarships of up to $50,000 in Washington, D.C., April 23-26. Suh was chosen for her research on the coping strategies of high school students. Wang was chosen for his work in mathematical modeling and the spread of diseases.

“With the nation facing a potentially catastrophic shortage of public health professionals, it is critical that we cultivate the next generation of public health talent,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Sarah and Jeffrey’s outstanding work demonstrates that the future of epidemiology holds great promise.”

The YES Competition was established in 2003 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the College Board to inspire talented high school students to apply epidemiological methods to the investigation of public health issues and, ultimately, encourage the brightest young minds to enter the field of public health. By 2020, the United States will face a shortfall of more than 250,000 public health workers, according to the Association of Schools of Public Health.

Suh and Wang are two of 60 Regional Finalists invited to the nation’s capital to present their projects to a panel of distinguished judges composed of leading epidemiologists and public health experts. This year’s judges include epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the former Deputy Commissioner for New York City’s Department of Health, and the Chief of the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Disease, among other prominent public health figures. All 60 Regional Finalists are awarded at least $2,000 each. The top 12 YES Scholars advance to compete as National Finalists for scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. This year’s 12 National Finalists will be announced Monday, April 26.

Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, said: “Teaching new generations about epidemiology has tremendous value not only for those who go on to pursue careers in public health, but for all students. Through the study of epidemiology, students expand their understanding of scientific methods and critical thinking. These students are addressing national and global health issues that are shaping the world around us. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of their hard work in the future.”

The YES Competition awards nearly $500,000 in college scholarships annually to 120 high school students. To date, the YES Competition has awarded more than $3.2 million in scholarships. More than 4,000 students from all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and American Samoa, have entered the YES Competition since its inception. Six-hundred-thirty-nine students entered in 2010. Past winners have investigated bird flu outbreaks in humans, post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans, and the link between sleep deprivation and teen obesity, among many other urgent public health challenges of our time.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the quality of the health and health care of all Americans, the foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years, the foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org ^[2].

The College Board

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves 7 million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid and enrollment. Among its widely recognized programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the Advanced Placement Program (AP), SpringBoard and ACCUPLACER. The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.com ^[3].

From the April 21-27, 2010 issue