Cottler receives honorary doctoral degree from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University

img_2894Dr. Linda B. Cottler, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in public health from Thailand’s leading research university, Chulalongkorn University. Cottler was recognized for her contributions and achievement in public health at a ceremony held Oct. 20 at Chulalongkorn’s campus in Bangkok. Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided.

Cottler’s collaboration with Chulalongkorn University dates back to 2005, and in 2013, the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions established a partnership with the College of Public Health Sciences at Chulalongkorn to include an exchange of faculty members and students for study, teaching and research. Students from both institutions have participated in the exchange, and Chitlada Areesantichai, Ph.D., an assistant dean at Chulalongkorn’s College of Public Health Sciences, spent six months at UF, conducting research with Cottler’s team and learning about HealthStreet’s operations, leading to a proposal for HealthStreet Bangkok, in the works for 2017.