The Tom Bruce Award
"[The] whole idea of public health being driven by all the experts was in fact the opposite of what should be
done. Bring in the people who had the problem and make them part of the solution. "
Overview
The Tom Bruce Award was established in 2006 by the Community-Based Public Health
(CBPH) Caucus of the American Public Health Association (APHA). The award
celebrates the work and the legacy of Dr. Bruce to CBPH.
Thomas Allen Bruce, M.D., is a physician, educator, and philanthropist who lives in Little
Rock, Arkansas. His professional career was as a professor of medicine at Wayne State
University, Detroit; head of Cardiology at the University of Oklahoma; and dean of the
College of Medicine, University of Arkansas. From 1985 to 1997 he served as a
program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, planning new initiatives, reviewing
proposals, and monitoring projects in health, leadership, and rural development. He
provided direction for the national Community-Based Public Health initiative beginning
in 1990. Many in the CBPH Movement have called Dr. Bruce the "Father of CBPH". His
research covers intermediary cardiac metabolism, rural health manpower studies,
primary health care, and community-driven health promotion/disease prevention. Dr.
Bruce has received numerous tributes, including the Governor's Certificate of Merit for
Outstanding Citizenship (Arkansas) and Special Appreciation (Kaohsiung Medical
College, Republic of China). In 1995, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science
degree by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Since retirement in 1997, he
has helped the Heifer Project International expand their programming; assisted the
Arkansas Community Foundation in expanding philanthropy throughout the state by
developing a set of new local community foundations; coordinated the building of a new
botanical garden/arboretum; and assisted two community development corporations in
expanding their human services. In 2001 he left retirement to assume the position as
Dean pro tem of a new College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas. In 2004,
Dr. Bruce became a Professor and the Associate Dean of the University of Arkansas
Clinton School of Public Service. Since retiring from the Associate Dean position in
December 2007, he has been selected to serve on the Governor’s Roundtable on
Health Care.
The Tom Bruce Award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies leadership
in CBPH. The award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution
to the CBPH Caucus and the CBPH Movement.
Past Awards:
All past awardees are listed on our website:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/cbphcaucus/about/awards.html
Criteria for Nominees

An individual who has made a significant contribution to community-based public
health through activities that exemplify the CBPH Caucus’s vision, goals, and
activities. (See www.cbphcaucus.org)

Nomination by a CBPH Caucus member. (membership is free, visit
cbphcaucus.org)
Deadline
Award nominations for the Tom Bruce Award must be received no later than the
September 1, 2015.
WHERE TO SEND THE NOMINATION APPLICATION:
Nominations for the Tom Bruce Award should be sent to cbphcaucus@umich.edu.
Tom Bruce Award
Nomination Application
Whom would you like to nominate?
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Name of assistant (if applicable):
Assistant phone number:
Assistant e-mail:
Please tell us about yourself, as the nominator.
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
E-mail:
Fax:
Please tell us why you are nominating this individual.
In 75 words or less, please provide a summary of how the nominee has made a
significant contribution to improving the public’s health through exemplary work in
advancing the CBPH Caucus vision, goals, and activities.
Please also provide the following information as attachments to this nomination form:
I. DESCRIPTION OF ACHIEVEMENTS
In a description not to exceed two pages, please provide details about the
nominee’s community-based public health achievements. Information can include
specific achievements in supporting and promoting the CBPH Caucus, in a
particular field of research, in contributions toward advancing health in a particular
community or geographic area, in progress made in community-based public health
accomplishments.
The description should address as many of the following questions as possible:
• What was the role of the nominee in the overall accomplishment?
• Has the nominee improved the health of one or more specific communities or
advanced a particular field of research?
• Has the nominee been recognized by other individuals or organizations for his or
her contributions in this field?
• How did the nominee use innovation or creative solutions to overcome obstacles?
Please also include a brief description of the nominee’s background, training,
professional affiliations and current position, including the organization’s mission and
goals if relevant.
II. SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Up to two letters of support not to exceed one page each. We suggest at least
one support letter should be from a community member who has worked with
the nominee.
Resume or Curriculum vitae (and bibliography if appropriate) of the nominee
Additional supplementary materials are not requested and will not be
considered.