ALLAN ROSENFIELD RECEIVES PUBLIC HEALTH
LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM AMERICAN LEGACY FOUNDATION

March 6, 2006 -- The American Legacy Foundation presented Allan Rosenfield, MD, dean of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health with its first Legacy Leadership Award for Extraordinary Leadership in Public Health, at its third annual honors dinner held March 6, 2006 in New York City. The award was presented to Dr. Rosenfield jointly by Dr. Thomas Frieden, Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO, American Legacy Foundation.  Joseph A. Califano, Jr., president, Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University; and former secretary of the Department of Health Education and Welfare also presented the award.

Legacy Honors pays tribute to individuals and organizations from various fields whose contributions have strengthened the foundation's mission to build a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.  This unique annual awards ceremony reinforces the foundation's mission to educate people about the many health risks associated with smoking, and to provide direct services and information to assist people struggling to quit.

"Dr. Rosenfield has been a champion for the American Legacy Foundation, spearheading efforts on Amicus Briefs on our behalf, and he has gone to bat for us on the controversial issues surrounding universities accepting tobacco industry funding. Allan, we honor you tonight with this award," said Dr. Healton. In presenting the leadership award, Commissioner Frieden spoke about Dr. Rosenfield as a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend and acknowledged his extraordinary career and lasting achievements in the field of public health, with a particular emphasis on women's reproductive health and HIV/AIDS domestically and globally.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a strong supporter for decreasing tobacco use, was the special guest speaker at the award gala and also made comments regarding Dr. Rosenfield and his award.  Jane Hanson of WNBC-TV served as the evening's mistress of ceremonies.