Pekka Puska's short CV

Name: Pekka Puska Official title: Director General Degrees: MD, PhD, MPolSc Tel: +358 29 524 6001 E-mail: firstname.lastname@thl.fi Year of birth: 1945

Education and academic affiliations

• 1974 Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, epidemiology/public health, University of Kuopio
• 1971 Licentiate of Medicine, University of Turku
• 1968 Master of Political Sciences, University of Turku

• 1985– Adjunct Professor, public health, University of Kuopio
• 1983– Adjunct Professor, public health, University of Helsinki
• 1983 visiting scholar, Stanford University

Professional background

• 2009– Director General, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
• 2003–2008 Director General, National Public Health Institute of Finland (KTL)
• 2001–2003 Director, Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, World Health Organisation (WHO)
• 2000–2001 Director General, National Public Health Institute of Finland (KTL)
• 1992–2000 Director, Division of Health and Chronic Diseases, National Public Health Institute of Finland (KTL)
• 1978–2001 Professor and Director, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute of Finland (KTL)
• 1972–1978 Principal Investigator, North Karelia Project, University of Kuopio

Positions in Finland

• Numerous expert tasks and positions with many Finnish non-governmental organisations
• Member of several government committees and working groups in the field of public health and research
• 2007– Vice-Chair, Board of Alko Inc. (Finnish state alcohol monopoly)
• 2005– Chair, Board of Directors, Urho Kekkonen Fitness Institute Foundation; 2005–2011 Chair, National Nutrition Council 
• 2004–2009 Chair, Finnish Heart Association; 2004–2008 Chair, Finnish Heart Foundation
• 2010– Chancellor, University of Turku

International positions

• 2007–2008 President Elect, 2009–2010 President, 2011–2012 Past President, World Heart Federation (WHF)
• 2006– Vice President, International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI)
• 2004– Member, 2008- Vice Chair, 2010– Chair, IARC Governing Council (International Agency for Research on Cancer)
• 2003 Chair, International Steering Committee, 12th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Helsinki
• 1999 Chair, Steering Committee, 2nd European Conference on Tobacco or Health, Gran Canaria, Spain
• 2011 Chair, Scientific Comittee, 8th WHO Health Promotion Conference, Helsinki 2013

Honours and grants

• 2008 Rank Prize for Nutrition
• 2005 Nordic Public Health Award
• 2004 Recognition Award in Medicine, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation
• 2003 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award
• 2003 John P. McGovern Award, American School Health Association
• 1999 WHO Tobacco-Free World Award
• A number of grants from Finland (Academy of Finland, foundations, etc.) and from international organisations (USDA, the EU, etc.)