Martin Luther H.S. Grad Gets MacArthur Fellowship

John Rich, M.D., M.P.H.

Martin Luther H.S. Class of 1976 alumnus Dr. John Rich, chair of the Department of Health Management in the School of Public Health at Drexel University, was named one of only 25 MacArthur Foundation Fellows late in 2006. He will receive $500,000 in "no strings attached" support over the next five years.

Rich established the Young Men's Health Clinic at the Boston Medical Center in 1993 to improve the health and well being of one of the nation's most ignored and underserved populations- African-American men in urban settings- and provide primary care "designed to meet the needs of young men in the inner city, including intensive health education, access to dental care, nutritional and fitness advice and mental health interventions". He established the Boston HealthCREW in 1995 to develop a program to "train young African-American men to become community outreach educators, helping them to prepare for careers in public health while continuing their outreach in the community".

Rich earned his bachelor of arts degree from Dartmouth College, his M.D. from Duke University Medical School and a master's degree in public health from Harvard School of Public Health. He completed his internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and was a fellow in general internal medicine at Harvard Medical School. He has also served as an associate professor of medicine and of public health at Boston University, was medical director of the Boston Public Health Commission and the director of the Young Men's Health Clinic, which he founded in 1993. His research has linked economic health, mental health, and educational and employment issues to physical well being. His work on black men's health is influencing policy discussions and health practice throughout the U.S.

The MacArthur Fellowship is a five-year grant to individuals who show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future. Individuals cannot apply for this award; they must be nominated. Businessman John MacArthur created the foundation in 1970. It began operations upon his death in 1978.

Martin Luther H.S., accredited by the Middle States Association and Registered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers students a college preparatory curriculum within a caring Christian community. Advanced placement courses and college credit classes through St. John's University and Adelphi University are available, as are extracurricular activities ranging from Band and Choir to Varsity and Junior Varsity sports. For more information, contact MLHS at 718- 894-4000, e-mail Info@MartinLutherNYC.org or visit www.MartinLuther NYC.org.