2007 Special Recognition Award for Lifetime Achievement

November 14, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact: Crystal Pariseau, 301-588-8252
[email protected]

Margaret Giannini awarded 2007 Special Recognition Award for Lifetime Achievement

Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP, and AUCD Past-President, Lu Zeph, EdD

November 14, 2007, Washington, DC: Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP, of the Office on Disability, US Department of Health and Human services received the 2007 Special Recognition Award for Lifetime Achievement today at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Annual Meeting and Conference.

Rarely awarded, this award is presented to Dr. Giannini for her lifetime of contributions to the Association and the disabilities field.

Dr. Giannini was the director of one of the first generation of University Affiliated Facilities (UAFs, what are now UCEDDs). She oversaw one of the first round of (what is now) MCHB construction grants in 1968 and in 1972 obtained on the first round of training grants from (what is now) ADD. She served as President of the Board of AAUAP, now known as AUCD, from 1970-1971.

Since 2002, as the Director of the Office on Disability at the US Department of Health and Human Services, she has advanced national policies designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Dr. G, as she is affectionately known by her colleagues, has been instrumental in bringing focus and attention on the Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities. She has also provided a forum for disability organization to interact with high level federal officials regarding a broad spectrum of disability issues in the Disability Constituency meetings that she has regularly convened. She has clearly made a significant and lasting contribution to the field and this award acknowledges her unselfish and longstanding efforts.

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Established in 1971, AUCD is a membership organization comprised of three national networks of interdisciplinary, university-based Centers dedicated to research, education, leadership training, policy development, and direct service for people with disabilities.

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