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Allen Wilcox Profiled In Local Newspaper After Winning Mentor Of The Year Award At SPER Annual Meeting

Allen Wilcox, epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park NC and former editor of the journal Epidemiology, was profiled in August in the News and Observer, a regional newspaper in the Research Triangle area of  North Carolina. The trigger for the profile was the award Wilcox was given as Mentor of the Year at the recent annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research.

Wilcox was part of the newspaper’s Tar Heel of the Week feature which profiles notable North Carolinians for their impact on the Triangle community. The feature has been running for more than 50 years and described Wilcox’s community involvement as well as his mentoring contributions.

Wilcox told the newspaper, “One of the things I love about living here is it’s a place where you can make a difference…in a big city there’s a limit to what you can really do.” According to the paper, Wilcox has advocated for his neighborhood, has helped to create a park, and is working as a volunteer to help revitalize downtown areas. Just what you might expect from a government employee working for an agency dedicated to the environment.

In describing his mentoring philosophy, Wilcox told the paper he focuses on reinforcing the joy of discovery which should animate all scientists. “I want them to have that spark of enthusiasm and curiosity that will let them overcome their preconceived ideas and be open to discovering something new. What could be better than that, he asked.

Wilcox is aware of the challenges facing

young researchers and believes a passion for the work is essential. He told the paper, “Part of my mentoring is reminding them that it’s not about which journal they’re published in---it’s the quality of the work they do…Somehow, you have to have your own internal bearings.”

Wilcox was nominated for the award by one of his postdoctoral fellows Anne Marie Jukic who is now Assistant Professor at Yale School of Public Health. She told the News and Observer “He lets me end conversations, assuring that my questions have been answered…Dr Wilcox strikes a fine balance between encouraging independence and providing guidance.”

To read more about Wilcox career trajectory and the full profile, visit:

https://tinyurl.com/q62lk4q  ■


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