MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Kirby, Barnett, Blount, Dearing, Frazier, Horhn, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Michel, Norwood, Simmons (12th), Jolly
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF MARY CURRIER, M.D., M.P.H, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AS STATE HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE MISSISSIPPI STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
WHEREAS, the Legislature wishes to join the State Board of Health in recognizing and showing appreciation for the distinguished service by Dr. Mary Currier; and
WHEREAS, Mary Currier, M.D., M.P.H., State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, retired on October 31, 2018, after more than 34 years of service to public health; and
WHEREAS, Mary Currier was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan; graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree; graduated with a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1983; and graduated with a Master of Public Health Degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 1987; and
WHEREAS, Mary Currier began her public health career as a Laboratory Technician in Neurotoxicology Research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1979; and held several teaching positions over the years at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Currier joined the Mississippi State Department of Health in July 1984 as Staff Physician for Public Health District V; was a Medical Consultant from July 1988 to May 1993; served as State Epidemiologist from June 1993 to February 2004 and from July 2007 to January 2010; was the Director of the Office of Epidemiology from March 2002 to February 2004; was Deputy State Health Officer for Medicine and Science from October 2008 to December 2009; was Interim State Health Officer from December 2009 to January 2010; and was named State Health Officer on January 13, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Currier received the "Felix J. Underwood Award" from the Mississippi Public Health Association in 2009 for protecting the health of Mississippians; the "Nathan Davis Award" for Outstanding Government Service from the American Medical Association in 2016; the "Arthur T. McCormack Award" for demonstrating excellence and for making a significant contribution to the knowledge and practice for public health from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in 2016; and the "Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award" from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2017; the MPHA's "Alfio Rausa Medical Care Section Award" demonstrating outstanding dedication to public health service in 2018; and a Lifetime Membership in MPHA in 2018 (one of only four in MPHA history); and
WHEREAS, Mary Currier is a member of the American Medical Association, the Mississippi State Medical Association's Central Medical Society, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the American Public Health Association, and is Board Certified in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Currier led the Mississippi State Department of Health to numerous accomplishments such as the opening of the state-of-the-art Dr. F.E. "Ed" Thompson State Public Health Laboratory; the organizational transition of the agency from nine public health districts to three regions and achieving accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board; and the achievement of high childhood immunization rates that have been praised nationally; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Currier was instrumental in working through the challenges that the Mississippi State Department of Health has faced such as emerging diseases, including the onset of West Nile virus, Ebola and Zika; as well as the anthrax threat after 9/11; times of severe funding issues; the rise in syphilis in the 1990s; and most recently, obtained funding from the Legislature to combat HIV and tuberculosis; and
WHEREAS, Mary Currier is a passionate advocate for decreasing infant mortality in the state, and recently joined with Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba to launch the city's Safe Sleep Initiative to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and sleep-related deaths; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Currier has worked with Mississippi State Board of Health Chairman Lucius M. Lampton, M.D., and Ed D. "Tad" Barham, M.D., to improve the quality of life for all Mississippians; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute to the professional public health service of a dedicated state official whose enormous civic energy has left a legacy of leadership and dedication to all citizens in Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the outstanding public health service of Mary Currier, M.D., M.P.H., upon the occasion of her retirement as State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Currier and her family, forwarded to the State Board of Health and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.