Dr. Arthur L. Frank, a professor and chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, at the School of Public Health, recently received the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) in honor of his tireless dedication to increasing asbestos awareness to eliminate diseases and unending support to the organization.
Dr. Frank was one of eight honorees at the ADAO's 8th annual international asbestos awareness conference in New York City at the end of March. The theme of the conference this year was “Asbestos: An International Public Health Crisis.” There were over 100 conference attendees and nearly 30 presenters, representing nine different countries; complimenting the ADAO's aim of international collaboration. The presentations ranged from innovative ways to push for a global asbestos ban, and the deadly effects of asbestos that persist, to the options victims of asbestos exposure have.
Concluding the weekend was a Sunday brunch and candle lighting held to honor all victims lost to asbestos-related diseases and to pledge to remember them while fighting for better future health outcomes. The week immediately following the conference, the ADAO published "Prevent Asbestos Exposure: 7 Reasons for 7 Days" in recognition of Global Asbestos Awareness Week. This publication features a blog written by Dr. Frank titled "Why is Asbestos Bad for My Health?"
Dr. Frank received his M.D. degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the City University of New York. He was trained in both internal medicine and occupational medicine and holds board certification in both fields. As a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service, he conducted research at the National Cancer Institute. His major research activities have included the study of occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis, occupational cancers, especially those related to asbestos exposure, and has worked in the area of agricultural safety and health.
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