Press Releases
Young Scientist from Mexico Receives Award for Veterinary Health Achievement
Media Contact: Ashley Gatewood
gatewooa@pahef.org
202-974-3727
WASHINGTON, DC (September 30, 2009) – Dr. Ilane Hernández Morales was honored last night with the Pedro N. Acha Award for Veterinary Public Health for her thesis “Preparation and Assessment of a DNA Vaccine Versus Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Outer Membrane Protein A (OmpA) in Laying Hens.” The Pan American Health and Education Foundation along with the Pan American Health Organization gave the award to Dr. Hernandez for her excellent discoveries and work to improve public health.
Salmonella enteritidis is the microorganism most frequently isolated from clinical samples in humans. Dr. Hernández’s important thesis discusses a DNA-based vaccine to combat Salmonella living within the chicken so that it is not passed through the egg and onto humans. In Mexico, up to 84 billion Salmonella-infected eggs are produced annually, which poses a great threat to consumers.
The Pedro N. Acha Award for Veterinary Public Health, created in 1993, recognizes the importance of veterinary public health to the peoples of the Americas and the economies of the countries. This award identifies outstanding research based on a thesis written by an undergraduate student in veterinary public health within the last three years. It also aims to encourage dedication to the highest standards of scholarship and professionalism.
Dr. Hernandez’s passion in veterinary public health began when she was a little girl living on a farm in Mexico. It was then, being in the company of animals daily, that she realized the significance of the animal-human relationship.
“It is an honor to receive the Pedro N. Acha Award for Veterinary Public Health that recognizes our research group and the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s continued effort to generate high-quality research applicable to veterinary health” said Dr. Hernandez.
“Salmonella poses an enormous health risk to the population, not just in Mexico but around the world. We are grateful for Dr. Hernandez’s research that is advancing both veterinary and public health. Her work has taken us a step closer to preventing Salmonella transition to humans,” said Edward Kadunc, executive director of PAHEF.
Dr. Hernandez is currently a professor of bacteriology and mycology and immunology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
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Founded in 1968, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) is a public 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering public health programs in the Americas that address major health concerns. PAHEF’s expertise has improved the lives of people throughout the Americas by working with the public and private sectors as well as major public health research, policy, and development groups.
PAHEF enjoys a unique relationship with PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.
Since 1975, the Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health have been stimulating the growth of the next and rising generation of leaders working together to improve health and health care in the Americas. The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health is a partnership between the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). A jury of distinguished public health professionals reviews nominations and recommends a candidate for each award to the board of trustees of the Foundation for final selection. The awards have the unique distinction of recognizing both established and emerging contributors to the field of public health within the Western Hemisphere. Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, they are recognized as a career-defining achievement that brings honor and recognition.
www.pahef.org
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