For Immediate Release

September 18, 2007

Anne Brisson Joins CUSSW Global Health Research Center Team

New York, NY – Dr. Anne Brisson has joined the Columbia University School of Social Work as an Associate Research Scientist to coordinate the activities of the newly established Global Health Research Center of Central Asia.

Dr. Brisson has been working in the field of international health for six years, including being awarded as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar for research and teaching in Kosovo. Prior to joining CUSSW, she was a research scientist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In addition to her new role in coordinating activities, fundraising and program development for the Research Center, Dr. Brisson will continue to serve as a Principal Investigator on her National Institute of Drug Abuse-funded HIV/STD prevention study with sex workers in Tajikistan.

Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Center is the first research center on global health established by a university in Central Asia. The Center serves Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  Its mission is to develop effective solutions to pressing health problems and help reduce health disparities in Central Asia.

For more information, please contact Jeannie Hii 212-851-2327 or [email protected].

# # #

About CUSSW (www.socialwork.columbia.edu)
For more than 100 years, the Columbia University School of Social Work has been the leader in practice and policy. Located in New York City, the School offers Master’s and Doctoral programs which are nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence. With its signature curriculum that encompasses multifaceted academic coursework and a far-reaching field education experience, CUSSW continues to be at the forefront of clinical practice, public policy, teaching, research and social work innovation in the 21st century.

About the Social Intervention Group (www.socialwork.columbia.edu/sig)
The Social Intervention Group is a multidisciplinary research center that works to bring prevention and intervention models to local, national, and international communities. The center addresses co-occurring problems such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and interpersonal violence and trauma. Through mentoring and training, the center aims to expand the number of students, faculty, and service providers who conduct rigorous community-based intervention research.