Nursing Professor Receives President's Award
Kendrick Wilk

Professor Stephanie Chalupka of UMass Lowell's department of Health and Environmental Science was the recent recipient of the President's Award for Public Service. The award was given to recognize outstanding progress in the advancement of public health science education. The ceremony was held in UMass President Jack Wilson's office at the State House in Boston. In attendance were President Wilson, the Board of Trustees, and representatives from each of the five UMass campuses.

For nearly thirty years Professor Chalupka has served as a public health nurse and has served on the board of directors of the Family Health Agency in Worcester, MA. Professor Chalupka attributes this award to her developmental work with The Cross-Cultural Approach to Healthy Homes. Professor Chalupka has insisted that the admirable progress made in this field has been the result of a team effort. With the help of colleagues, Dr. Alinda Silka, David Turcotte, and Julie Villareal, twenty-two community and faith based groups in addition to several nursing students, emergency response groups, and volunteer firefighters who have assisted as trainers, the "Healthy Homes" initiative has reached out to a total of 1000 families.

Chalupka's primary focus is pediatrics. "Children are growing up with exposure to hazardous substances at a time when they should be developing healthy organ systems," she describes. She notes that many immigrant families, in a diversely populated area, like Lowell, face a "triple threat" of language, poverty, and safe housing. Fire, health, and safety issues remain the focus of the "Healthy Homes" organization. With the continuing efforts of many, Professor Chalupka remains optimistic and continues to "look up stream".