FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CDC/DASH Director Howell Wechsler to Address NASPE/AAHPERD Convention

Dr. Howell Wechsler, director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will speak about the " Implications for Physical Education and the Physical Education Profession of the new CDC School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2006" at the NASPE General Session on Thursday, April 10, at its annual convention in Ft. Worth, TX. HOPSports, an innovator of digital video-based fitness training headquartered in Valencia, CA, is the sponsor of the NASPE General Session.

Over 6,000 physical education teachers, coaches and other physical activity professionals are expected to attend the 123rd annual convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). The NASPE General Session, one of the highlights of the annual convention, has recently featured such well-known speakers as baseball great Cal Ripken, Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer Bob Greene, Donna Orender, president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and Olympian Dot Richardson, vice-chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

In his current position since April 2004, Dr. Wechsler supervises the management of DASH's three surveillance systems (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, School Health Policies and Programs Study, and School Health Profiles); research and evaluation studies; research synthesis reports; development and dissemination of tools to help schools and community programs implement evidence-based policies and practices; and programmatic activities, including funding of and technical assistance to state and local education agencies and national, non-governmental organizations.

Prior to this appointment, he served two years as the Chief of the Research Application Branch in DASH. In that position, Dr. Wechsler supervised CDC's scientists who provided content expertise in topics such as sexual risk behaviors prevention, physical activity, nutrition, obesity prevention, tobacco use prevention, injuries and violence prevention, asthma management, and food safety. He also has served as the division's nutrition education and obesity prevention specialist and co-coordinator of CDC's national initiative to enable schools to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Dr. Wechsler has provided technical assistance for CDC school health surveillance instruments and coordinated projects that promote the implementation of the CDC school health guidelines. He was the lead author of CDC's Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating and played a leading role in the development of the School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide and Promoting Better Health for Young People Through Physical Activity and Sports: A Report to the President.

Prior to joining CDC in 1995, Dr. Wechsler served for six years as Project Director of the Washington Heights-Inwood Healthy Heart Program in New York City. This community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program was affiliated with Columbia University, where Dr. Wechsler taught courses in health communication. Dr. Wechsler has also directed a community-based health screening program serving the New York City metropolitan area and has worked as a health educator for the New York City Department of Health. He entered the field of public health during his service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire.

Dr. Wechsler earned a doctorate in health education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a master's in public health from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. In 2005, he was awarded the William G. Anderson Award in recognition of meritorious service to the professions of health education, physical education, recreation, and dance from AAHPERD.

About HOPSports

HOPSports is a multi-media instructional tool for physical education teachers, delivered through DVR technology. The multi-screen format provides fitness lesson plans that meet state and national standards while integrating nutrition, fun facts, anatomy instruction, career counseling, and educational messaging in a fun and exciting environment engaging all students K-12. HOPSports' delivery mechanism is simple to use and is a great tool for physical educators to teach along with HOPSports host of exciting trainers. Visit www.HOPSports.com.

About NASPE

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. The mission of NASPE is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
(703) 476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.