COVER STORY: NRI EMPIRE

Honoured by Governor

ecause of his work in raising awareness about violence against women and public health issues, Indian American Professor Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani has been awarded the Indiana State Governors Award and the title of Hero in Health Education by the US Society for Public Health Education. The Governors Service Awards honor the work of nominated community members statewide on behalf of their communities and state, according to a press release from Bohlsen Group PR Firm in Indianapolis, USA. Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani is a medical graduate from India and earned advanced specialized training in public health education. He is a Professor of Community Health Education at Ball State University, Indiana, USA and an expert scientist in preventing violence against women. His research on violence prevention has been highlighted by US News, Fox News, CNBC, and Reuters. There are several high-impact examples of service learning that make Dr. Khubchandani worthy of this award Dr. Robert Morris of Indiana said. The academic caliber and drive for excellence Dr. Khubchandani expects of his students has resulted in a number of positive outcomes for the students and community. His students have gained substantial service learning experience in the process of their volunteer work and many of these students have won national awards and obtained positions at prestigious institutions. Derek Trovillion, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Indiana Governors office, reported that a panel of judges reviewed each nominee as they went through their stories and evidence of community service and volunteering projects and how impactful it was on the community. Trovillion said the quality of Khubchandanis research on preventing violence against women is what set him apart from other nominees. This office is really about giving service to people that are victims or in that position of an unhealthy relation-

ship and that is where the support from the community is really important Trovillion said. The Society for Public Health Education is celebrating a National Health Education Week in the United States. Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani was voted as one of the Heroes in Health Education for his outstanding global efforts in raising awareness about health issues in the communities. A womens rights activist and public health educator, Dr. Khubchandani was voted as a Hero based on his sustained and powerful impact in the field of public health research, practice, and teaching. Changing community health can change global health and I am honored to be a part of this process, said Dr. Khubchandani Khubchandani has also been awarded the 2012 Hurley Goodall Distinguished Faculty Award for his extraordinary involvement in promoting service learning in students and for his efforts to help students think beyond the norm of academic learning. I try to engage my students in service learning and volunteering because I have firsthand experience of how volunteering as a student gives you more knowledge and perspective in life, Khubchandani said.

Dr Khubchandani (centre) with the Indiana State Governors Award

30 INDIA EMPIRE | OCTOBER 2012