Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: June 10, 1999
CONTACT: John L Smith, Chief, WIC Program
Phone: 222-5929

Rhode Island State Health Official Receives National Award

PROVIDENCE – Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, MD, Director of the Department of Health (HEALTH)) announced that John L. Smith, Chief, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, received the National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD) Leadership Award at the Association’s recent National Meeting.

The award went jointly to Mr. Smith and his WIC counterpart from Massachusetts, Mary Kelligrew Kassler. Their work with the Northeast Dairy Compact Commission resulted in cost savings for WIC and School Milk Programs throughout the New England area ($1.6 million for WIC). The Dairy Compact sets a minimum price to be paid to farmers who provide drinking milk to the region. Mr. Smith convinced the Commission to reimburse public health programs for any milk price increases attributable to the Compact Price. He also developed model reimbursement agreements between the Commission and the six State Health Departments affected.

According to Dr. Nolan, "John's example shows the significant effect that one or two professionals can have on programs to meet the public health needs of people in Rhode Island and throughout the nation. We join with WIC directors and others in offering John our congratulations for a job well done and recognition well-deserved."

NAWD gives only one Leadership Award each year to a manger from the eighty-three state and tribal WIC agencies. The other five Northeast Region WIC Directors nominated the pair. Mr. Smith served as Board Member, committee chair and member of several special NAWD committees over a span of eighteen years.

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Department of Health Website: www.health.state.ri.us