Dr. Rachel H. Stevens was presented with the Ronald H. Levine Legacy Award on January 28 at the annual North Carolina State Health Director’s Conference in Raleigh. Named for former North Carolina State Health Director Dr. Ron Levine, the annual award honors individuals whose work and commitment on behalf of the public’s health has resulted in significant, sustainable and positive improvements to health and quality of life in North Carolina.
Dr. Stevens, former clinical professor and senior adviser to the director of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health’s North Carolina Institute for Public Health, retired from the school in 2008 after 20 years of service.
At UNC, Dr. Stevens had served as chair of the Public Health Nursing Program, chair of the Interdisciplinary Curriculum in Practice and Leadership, and director of the Center for Public Health Practice. Most recently, she was deputy director of the Institute, where she managed public health continuing and outreach education, facilitated the School’s technical assistance and consultation to public health practitioners, and directed public health research projects.
Dr. Stevens earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from UNC and a doctorate in education from North Carolina State University. She has more than thirty years’ experience and leadership in public health practice at the state and local levels.