College honors former U.S. senator

Max Cleland, a former U.S. senator from Georgia, has been awarded the College of Public Health and Health Professions' 2007 Darrel J. Mase Leadership Award, the highest award presented by the college.

Cleland was recognized for his leadership of the U.S. Veterans Administration, the nation's largest health-care system; strong support of mental health services for veterans; advocacy for improved health care and education; and courageous political decisions.

"Senator Cleland's dedication to preserving and promoting health care and higher education embody the spirit of the work of our founding dean, Darrel J. Mase, a visionary and pioneer in health education," said PHHP Dean Robert Frank.

Cleland is currently a member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and has a long and distinguished career in public service at the state and national levels in both the executive and legislative branches of government.

Under President Jimmy Carter, Cleland became the youngest head of the U.S. Veterans Administration. In that capacity, he instituted the revolutionary Vets Center program that, for the first time, offered psychological counseling to combat veterans to heal the emotional wounds of war.

Cleland volunteered for duty in Vietnam and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1968. He was seriously wounded in a grenade explosion that year, costing him both legs and his right arm. He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Silver Star for gallantry in action.

"Cleland's enormous professional success and public service demonstrates to our students, faculty, patients and community that people can overcome situations that could be devastating," Frank said.