Recognizing Professor John Rich, MD, MPH, Chair of Health Management and Policy at Drexel University, for being named a 2006 MacArthur Fellow and receiving the $500,000 "Genius" Grant.

WHEREAS, On September 19, 2006 the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 25 new MacArthur Fellows for 2006; and

WHEREAS, Doctor John Rich was named one of these fellows based on “exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work”; and

WHEREAS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellow’s Program’s purpose is to encourage recipients to “pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations.” With the Grant money, the fellows are encouraged to “accelerate their current activities or take their work in new directions”; and

WHEREAS, Doctor John Rich has dedicated his life to researching and improving inner city healthcare needs. In 1993, he began the Young Men’s Health Clinic at Boston City Hospital, a primary care clinic designed to meet the needs of young men in the inner city. In 1995, he developed the Boston HealthCREW training program to train young men of color as community outreach educators; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Dr. Rich joined Drexel University School of Public Health. Currently, he is Chair of Health Management and Policy and Director of the Center for Academic Public Health Practice and works closely with the Center for Health Equality; and

WHEREAS, The MacArthur Foundation President, Jonathan Fanton stated, “The annual announcement of the MacArthur Fellows is a special opportunity to celebrate the creative individual in our midst”; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize Professor John Rich, MD, MPH, Chair of Health Management and Policy at Drexel University, for being named a 2006 MacArthur Fellow and receiving the $500,000 Grant award.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Professor John Rich as evidence of the sincere sentiments and recognition of this legislative body.

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