Family Planning Researcher to Receive Marjorie Horn
Operations Research Award for Pioneering Approaches
to Program Research
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| From left to right: Margaret Neuse, Director OPRH; Jeffrey Spieler, Division Chief, Research, Technology & Utilization; Momodou Darboe; Dr. James Phillips, award recipient; Scott Radloff, Deputy Director, OPRH |
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| Dr. James Phillips and John Townsend, Director, FRONTIERS Project |
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| Jeff Spieler and Dr. James Phillips |
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Researcher Dr. James Phillips will receive the Marjorie
Horn Operations Research Award for 2004, an honor presented annually by The Office
of Population/ Reproductive Health in the Global Health Bureau of USAID. The award ceremony will be held on August
3 in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Phillips will be honored for his pioneering approaches to program research,
his dedication and commitment to the improvement of family planning (FP) programs, his support for building the capacity of developing country
researchers and institutions, and his perseverance in working to assure the
broad application of research results. He is a senior associate in the Policy
Research Division of the Population Council.
As an advisor to the Ghana Health Service, Phillips led the way in bridging
the gap between research results and program implementation. These efforts
included the development of a methodology in which studies were used to build
consensus for health service reforms at the national, regional, and community
levels. In 2000, Phillips and his colleagues used this methodology to launch
the Community-based Health Planning and Services initiative, which mobilizes
volunteers, resources, and cultural institutions to support community-based
primary health care throughout Ghana.
During his 35-year career, Phillips has focused on measuring the demographic
role of FP programs and conducting field experiments in reproductive
change. He directed the Matlab Community Health and Family Planning Project
in Bangladesh, which demonstrated the role of FP services in reducing
fertility in that country.
The Marjorie Horn Operations Research Award recognizes excellence in implementation
of program research and utilization of research results for program improvement.
The award is named for Dr. Marjorie Horn who served as the Deputy Chief of
the Research, Technology, and Utilization Division prior to her untimely death
in September 2002. She was the team leader for operations research and was
instrumental in launching the Agency’s initiative to eradicate female
genital cutting (FGC). Her commitment to the conduct and utilization of program
research for the betterment of the lives of women and men around the world
was inspirational to those who worked with her.
The August 3 award ceremony will include a brief presentation by Dr. Phillips
on successful efforts to reduce the practice of FGC
in Ghana, presentation of the award by Jeffrey Spieler, Chief, Research, Technology,
and Utilization Division in the Office of Population/Reproductive Health, and
a reception.
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