Nebraska State Sen. Mike Gloor, of Grand Island (district 35), was presented the Chancellor Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Award in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health on April 5.
The award was presented at a dinner celebrating the college’s 10th anniversary and National Public Health Week.
Ali S. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, presented the award to Sen. Gloor and praised his advocacy of public health initiatives.
"Sen. Gloor has for decades championed public health practices for Nebraska citizens. Most recently, he introduced legislative proposals to help decrease smoking in this state and prevent adolescents from starting," Dr. Khan said. "Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Nebraska and a critical hurdle to overcome to become the healthiest state in the union."
Sen. Gloor was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2008 and 2012. He serves as chairman of the Revenue Committee and a member of the Banking, Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Legislative Planning Committee. This year will be his final year in the Nebraska Legislature due to term limits.
Prior to joining the legislature, he was president and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, served as chairman of the Nebraska Hospital Association and as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Sen. Gloor was born in Alliance, Neb. and grew up in Fullerton, Neb. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hastings College and master’s degrees from the University of Utah and the University of Minnesota. He has chaired or co-chaired several boards of directors and committees, including the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation Board, Mid-Plains Community Mental Health Center Board, Nebraska Hospital Association and the Heartland United Way Campaign.
He also has been honored with numerous awards: the 2016 State Award for Excellence from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; the 2013 Patty Steele Memorial Award for Excellence in Public Advocacy from the American Cancer Society Action Network; the 2014 Friend of Family Medicine Award from the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians; the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce 2010 Distinguished Service Award; the 2005 Grand Island Independent Man of the Year; and the 2002 Regents Award from the American College of Health Care Executives.
Established in 2005, the Sparks Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding innovation, excellence, collaboration and impact on health promotion, disease prevention and advancement of effective public health. Dr. Sparks, who was UNMC's second chancellor (1972-1976), established this award through the University of Nebraska Foundation. He died in 2014 at the age of 82.
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