Inside The Academy:

Profiling Mark J. Kittleson, Ph.D.   

Robert J. McDermott, PhD 
Inside The Academy, Editor  

      Inside the Academy profiles Dr. Mark J. Kittleson, Professor of Health Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C). After obtaining his Ph.D. in 1986 from the University of Akron, Dr. Kittleson held a faculty appointment at Youngstown State University, and in 1989, joined the faculty of SIU-C. As a founding member of the American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB), Dr. Kittleson has contributed to the early development of AAHB. Dr. Kittleson has published more than 55 peer-reviewed articles in the professional literature. Included in this repertoire of journals are: the Journal of Health Education, the Journal of School Health, the Journal of Family Practice, the Southern Medical Journal, AIDS Education and Prevention, the American Journal of Health Behavior, and several others. Most of these published papers focus on his main areas of research interest: needs assessment of teachers, public health workers, and other health care workers with respect to HIV/AIDS information; and, the impact of the Internet and other technology features on research and research communication. 
      Dr. Kittleson also is the author of two notable books: Vital Statistics for the Public Health Educator (SlU Press, 1996) and Web Sites for the Health Professional (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1997). He is recognized readily by his colleagues, since he has been a featured presenter at national, regional, and state conferences nearly 100 times since 1978. 
      As an investigator and co-investigator, his extramurally-funded projects have totaled nearly half a million dollars. Of greater importance than the actual dollar amount has been the value to the people of Illinois emanating from these projects. Dr Kittleson was a co-investigator on the Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN), implemented and completed in 1994 by all 86 Illinois local health departments, which utilized a modified version of the APEX-PH model. IPLAN assisted the health departments in undergoing an internal organizational capacity assessment, conducting a community assessment, and developing a community health plan. Approximately 1,200 local leaders and residents took part in the community assessment process, and, statewide, 325 health priorities were identified. IPLAN was seen by local health departments as a productive activity, and focused them on the Healthy People 2000 objectives. More recently, Dr. Kittleson has spearheaded an HIV prevention and behavioral surveillance project for the Illinois Department of Public Health. In both of these projects, there has been a close articulation between research and practice, and therefore, relevant translation toward public health improvement. 
      Dr. Kittleson's most significant contribution to health education and behavior may be something that came about almost by accident. As a result of some discussion occurring at national meetings in 1992, he began to construct a directory of e-mail addresses of professional health educators and selected other health professionals. As the directory grew, along with the popularity of electronic mail, the need to expand the utility of the directory also came about. Thus, was born, what we know today as the Health Education Directory or HEDIR. I make no hesitation in claiming the HEDIR as the most significant development to impact health education in my more than 20 years in the profession. For the first time, health educators and other health professionals, regardless of area of employment, regardless of knowledge, formal education, or expertise, regardless of their orientation as a teacher, program planner, or academician, can communicate with each other freely, back-and-forth, and do so, at least in theory, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This communication can be to the entire listserv, or it can be one-on-one "chat' with the person or persons whose interests most mirror one's own. Dr. Kittleson's inspired creation of the HEDIR allows students, or rank and file health educators in county public health departments, to reach out to the best known scholars, researchers, and creative minds in the area of health education and behavior, and do so on a worldwide basis. In addition to facilitating communication among health educators, the HEDIR also can be credited with enhancing understanding and dialogue between health educators, and members of other health professions. 
      Augmenting this development was the creation in 1998 of the International Electronic Journal of Health Education, an Internet-based source for rapid dissemination of research, theory, and practice. Further, Dr. Kittleson is editor of, and regular contributor to, a recurring column featured in the American Journal of Health Behavior , entitled Electronic Notes , designed to improve understanding and utilization of technology for conducting research related to health behavior. 
      In summary, through dedication and inspired endeavor, Dr. Kittleson has advanced the many professions engaged in health behavior research and practice. We are proud to acknowledge these achievements Inside the Academy.

Am J Health Behav 1998;22(5):393-394