ALLAN ROSENFIELD, MD, DEAN OF THE MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, RECEIVES
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MOVEMENT'S HIGHEST HONOR - PLANNED PARENTHOOD
FEDERATION OF AMERICA'S MARGARET SANGER AWARD

March 30, 2006 -- Allan Rosenfield, MD, dean of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, received the highest honor in the reproductive rights movement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America's Margaret Sanger Award. Created in 1966, the award recognizes a global leader who best embodies the values of Margaret Sanger, the pioneer in women's reproductive rights. Dr. Rosenfield joins the distinguished company of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Sarah Weddington, Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, and Justice Harry Blackmun. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY), an advocate of reproductive rights and services in the U.S. Congress, presented the award to Dr. Rosenfield at Planned Parenthood's annual dinner, Thursday, March 30, 2006.

In presenting the award, Rep. Lowey cited Dr. Rosenfield's leadership in the fields of population, reproductive health, health policy and human rights, and his dedication to the health and well being of women and families in the U.S. and around the world.

"Dr. Rosenfield is a man who sees need, embraces change, takes responsibility, and believes in the power of humankind to change the world for the better," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Whether he's influencing his graduate students or meeting with world leaders or giants in business, he has kept his passion for family planning and reproductive rights at the forefront of his incredible career," noted Rep. Lowey.

Dr. Rosenfield served as national chair of Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 1985 to 1986, bringing attention to the field of maternal mortality, stimulating new programs and new thinking to the issues of family planning and maternal/child health. According to Ms. Lowey, Dr. Rosenfield "took Planned Parenthood to a whole different sphere in the medical world.  He used his prestige to give Planned Parenthood a legitimate, well-respected medical voice in the eyes of policy-holders and in the eyes of the public. He brought attention to the people who are the least likely to receive it and the most likely to need our compassionate care."

In addition to his leadership position at Planned Parenthood, Dr. Rosenfield served for 10 years as chair of New York State's AIDS Advisory Council, where he made lasting achievements in guiding New York's policies and procedures regarding HIV and AIDS. He also serves as chair of the Program Board of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), as a member of the boards of the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Packard Foundation, as well as the boards and committees of many other non-profit and governmental organizations. Earlier in his career, he worked in Nigeria and Thailand on issues of family planning and maternal/child health, and served as medical advisor for Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health to the Thai Ministry of Public Health.

In 1916 Margaret Sanger changed the face of history when she opened her first clinic in Brooklyn, New York, starting the organization that would one day become Planned Parenthood.  Here, she offered immigrant women information and advice about the female reproductive system, fertility, and birth control.