Greeley lands child abuse prevention award
Christopher Greeley, M.D., has been named to receive the 2006 Ray E. Helfer, M.D., Award by the National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds and the American Academy of Pediatrics in honor of his child abuse prevention efforts.
The award is presented to one pediatrician in the country who contributes to primary and secondary child abuse prevention and who is actively involved in a Children's Trust Fund.
“The people who have won this award in the past are great figures in the child protection arena,” Greeley said.
“It's an honor to be thought of in the same realm as these national leaders. It was quite surprising. I share this honor with a whole community of people; the great people and various groups I work with here at Vanderbilt, in Middle Tennesssee and at the state level.”
Greeley was nominated by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services' Prevention Advisory committee.
He serves on the Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA) Board of Directors, a national group that promotes support for child abuse prevention through education and legislation.
He also serves on the boards for Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee, the state chapter of PCAA, as well as Tennessee-CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
He is also serving on the Children's Justice Task Force, a federally mandated group that meets quarterly in Tennessee and has oversight of basic children's justice issues.
Greeley has also served on the Child Preventive Services reform subcommittee.
The award's namesake, the late Ray Helfer, M.D., is considered the “father” of children's trust and prevention funds due to his conceptualization of special funds that could be used to ensure that the nation's children grow up nurtured, safe and free from harm.
Greeley will receive his award in San Diego in May during the National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds' annual national conference, which coincides with the Prevent Child Abuse America board meeting.
Greeley is assistant professor of Pediatrics and medical director of both the Child Maltreatment Program and Newborn Nursery at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.