Dr. Carl Eckrode, a Ph.D. in Public Health graduate, was awarded Walden University's Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for his dissertation, Periodicity of Epidemic of Invasive Disease Due to Infection with Streptococcis pneumoniae in the United States.

Every year, more than 40,000 people in the United States die from Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) and its complications—which include pneumonia and meningitis—despite the availability of vaccination. In his study, Eckrode examined the frequency of IPD epidemics to determine if outbreaks occur in a periodic fashion apart from seasonal outbreaks and if early outbreaks can be detected.

For his research, Eckrode developed a retrospective cohort design study, using population data from the 2007 National Hospital Discharge Survey detailing 1979–2006. Using a frequency-domain-time-series analysis, Eckrode found children ages 5–14 have the highest rate of IPD—a new finding among the existing body of literature—and the Midwest as a geographical region has the highest incidence rate.

Eckrode’s research ultimately found IPD does not occur in periodic epidemics of definable frequency beyond the seasonal increase. His dissertation promotes social change by supporting education and prevention interventions that target at-risk populations ahead of seasonal epidemics, which will lead to significant decrease in the hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality rates associated with IPD. 

Bernard L. Turner Award
The Bernard L. Turner Award is bestowed annually upon the faculty chair of the dissertation committee of the recipient of the Harold L. Hodgkinson Award.

Dr. Maria Rangel chaired Dr. Eckrode’s dissertation and nominated him for the Harold L. Hodgkinson Award, writing:

“Throughout his dissertation journey, Dr. Eckrode exemplified Walden University values for high-quality research to address an important gap in the understanding of a phenomenon that for years eluded the public health community. His passion for the promotion of positive social change through the prevention of unnecessary disability and death led him to conceive and carry out this elegant study using complex statistics analytical techniques.”

Harold L. Hodgkinson Award
The Harold L. Hodgkinson Award is bestowed annually upon a Walden graduate whose dissertation is judged as meeting the highest university standards of academic excellence. The award honors the life of dedication and the distinguished career of one of the nation’s foremost experts in demography, Dr. Harold L. Hodgkinson. It also recognizes Hodgkinson’s instrumental role in the establishment and academic development of Walden University.

 
Read about past recipients of the Harold L. Hodgkinson Award.

Read more about Harold L. Hodgkinson in the 40th anniversary section of the current Walden alumni magazine.

Learn more about the research of Dr. Christopher Plum, 2009 Harold L. Hodgkinson Award recipient, in the Walden magazine article “Improving Individualized Education Program Meeting Practices.”

August Ponder front page

More Walden news