Helen Rehr, '45, '70DSW Honored by Alumni Federation
Receives Distinguished Service Medal from Columbia University Alumni Federation

We are pleased to announce that Helen Rehr, '45, '70DSW was honored at the 106th Commencement Luncheon on May 19th. Rehr was one of ten recipients of this year's Columbia University Alumni Federation Medal for Distinguished Service. Rehr's commitment to the University and to the School of Social Work, her mentoring of students, and her ongoing roles at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Medical Center were just some of the accomplishments cited by the Alumni Federation. Congratulations Helen!

The following is an excerpt from the article appearing in the Columbia Record Special 2004 Commencement Issue.

"Columbia graduates join a rich legacy of alumni who have gone on to influence their communities while staying connected to Alma Mater. In honor of this spirit, 10 distinguished alumni will receive awards for their diligent work from the Columbia University Alumni Federation at the 106th Commencement Day Luncheon on May 19 in Low Library. . . This year's medalists, along with their significant accomplishments and contributions, are described below. . .

"Helen Rehr, SW'45,'70, has been a mentor to students of Columbia and Hunter, having served both institutions on numerous committees -- most recently Columbia University School of Social Work's Doctoral Committee and Center for the Study of Social Work Practice. Rehr has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her professional association and inducted into the Hall of Fame of both Hunter and Columbia . She is currently professor of community medicine emerita and consultant on social-health research, education and program planning to Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Medical Center . She is the retired director of Department of Social Work Services, and was also director of the academic Division of Social Work, and director of the Division of Continuous Education of the Brookdale Center of Mount Sinai. She has been active in enhancing social-health care in local and national programs, but also internationally in Israel and Australia , where she has held visiting professorships. She retired from Mount Sinai in 1986, but she remains active at the institution and in a number of professional and community organizations."

Read the complete Record article.

Lisa Ferri    
June 2, 2004