Release Date: April 21, 2008
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
Assistant Director Honored with TALHO’s Top Award
2008 Janet Emerson Public Health Servant Award presented to Charles Pruski
The Texas Association of Local Health Officials recently recognized Metro Health’s assistant director with its top honor. Charles Pruski received the 2008 Janet Emerson Public Health Servant Award for committing nearly 35 years of service and numerous contributions to local public health efforts.
TALHO presents this annual tribute to a public health employee within a health department in the state of Texas who has demonstrated extraordinary performance with an exemplary commitment to local public health. It is the highest accolade given by the association for public health servants at the local level.
“I had the opportunity to meet and work with Janet Emerson when she was Chief Executive Director of the Waco McClennan County Public Health District. I am humbled to receive this award named in her honor and I greatly appreciate the support I had from those in my department who nominated me and for those on the selection committee who chose me for this award,” said Pruski.
In addition to the uniquely-designed award, Pruski and three other nominees also received a certificate of appreciation. Those nominees represented Tarrant County, Amarillo, and Dallas County and included two physicians.
Pruski began his career with Metro Health as a sanitarian in October 1973 after receiving his bachelor’s at Trinity University. Over the past three and a half decades, he has contributed to virtually every area of public health. Most recently, he helped lead the successful City/County Integration effort, resulting in the transfer of Metro Health’s clinical preventive services to the University Health System. The move was aimed at providing a more comprehensive and cost-effective system of care.
