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Curtis L. Patton, Ph.D., Professor, Researcher, and Mentor Retires From Yale Curtis L. Patton, Ph.D., Professor in the Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases celebrates his tenure of 36 years at Yale at a symposium and reception held in his honor on May 12.
Professor Patton has been a prominent figure not only at the School of Public Health but throughout the University. He has served in a variety of administrative capacities including Head of the Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases and Acting Head of the Division of Global Health. In the summer of 2004, Dr. Patton was asked by President Richard Levin to help re-establish and Chair the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC). MAC advises on the appropriateness of University policies related to minority groups. Professor Patton is the Director of International Medical Studies. He also serves as Chair of the Committee on International Health. In this role, his work helping to award Downs Fellowships to Yale students who undertake biomedical, medical, nursing, or public health research in developing countries has been invaluable. Professor Patton's research interests include identification and characterization of trypanosome specific calmodulin response elements, as well as studies of structure and biological function of trypanosome calmodulin. When asked what it is he will remember most about his time at Yale University, one might expect to hear such an accomplished person name the awards he has received or speak of the ground-breaking research that he was a part of. When one asks Dr. Curtis Patton what he will remember most he does not hesitate and he answers, “What I will remember most about Yale is the students”. Patton says that “Students are our (the faculty's) colleagues”. In 1970, when Patton came to Yale as an assistant professor, he was in his office and second year medical students came knocking on his door, wanting to know everything about his research. They began an informal discussion group with no books, just an exchange of ideas and of knowledge. “They wanted to go beyond the textbook,” said Patton. Dr. Patton took his students beyond the textbook, taking a personal interest in each one. Professor Patton arrived at Yale during a turbulent time. The Black Panthers were on trial in New Haven on the first day he arrived. There were few students of minority descent. Patton and other African-American professors took the time and the interest to look through the student pictures and memorize the names to the faces so that when they passed them on campus, they could say hello to the student by name. Patton not only took a personal interest in the students, but took an interest in the Yale community. Yale's recognition of Edward A. Bouchet, Yale College's first African-American graduate who was son of a slave, was one of Professor Patton's most notable contributions to our community. Bouchet became a hero of Patton's while he was an undergraduate student at Fisk University. Since his arrival at Yale, Patton has worked tirelessly to ensure that Bouchet not be forgotten by his alma mater. Due in large part to Patton, Bouchet's picture now resides in Yale's bookstore. Patton will take his students there when they are going through a particularly difficult time, academically or personally. “I take them there,” he says, “not just black students, white students, anyone. I point to his picture and I say ‘Can you imagine what it was like for him. Don't you think there were times that he wanted to give up?'” A scholarship, the Creed/Patton/Steele Fund was established partly in Dr. Patton's honor. This fund was established in 2003 by Yale Alumni in Public Health's Emerging Majority Affairs Committee (EMAC). It is the first endowed fund in support of underrepresented minority students at the Yale School of Public Health. The scholarship was established to recognize the importance of diversity in graduate and professional education and to acknowledge the contributions of underrepresented minorities to the field of public health. Amongst his numerous awards and achievements, Dr. Patton will receive the 2006 Award for Excellence in Leadership Promoting Public Health, Social Justice, and Human Rights. The criteria for the award include outstanding contribution and achievement in a disciplinary field related to public health; service to the community and to the university; and leadership in providing advocacy for social policy advances which promote social justice and human rights. Patton was the award committee's unanimous decision. He also received the Edward A. Bouchet Leadership Award in 2004. The award was established in 2002 in honor of Bouchet. The Bouchet Leadership Award is a national award given to leaders in academia who have played a critical role in diversifying higher education, who are outstanding in their field of study, and who serve as role models to students. In presenting the award to Professor Patton, Dean Salovey said:
Dr. Curtis Patton has been a dedicated teacher, mentor and scholar for the Yale, New Haven and world communities. His commitment to our school, our university, and especially to our students is a standard to which everyone at EPH should strive for. You have taught us about the importance of diversification and have been a demonstration of perseverance accomplishing dreams. Thank you Dr. Patton, for your leadership, knowledge, and kindness. -Story by Marcie Foley |
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