The director of the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health & Safety at Marshfield Clinic's National Farm Medicine Center has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent North American Agricultural Safety Summit. Barbara Lee, Ph.D. was presented with the honor virtually during the online conference, which was hosted by the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America.
"Put simply, there would be no ASHCA without Barbara Lee," said ASHCA Board Chairman Jess McCluer, who is vice president of safety and regulatory affairs at the National Grain and Feed Association.
Seeing the need to connect ag safety research with industry, Lee facilitated an initial meeting of farm safety proponents in 2006 to explore the idea of a national, industry-driven ag safety organization. Building on her professional networks in safety, government and agri-business, she helped secure funding and support, leading to the incorporation of ASHCA one year later. Lee served as ASHCA's first executive director. The ASHCA headquarters has since moved to Washington, D.C.
Dr. Lee's experience as an early-career nurse in a rural hospital in Wisconsin sparked her passion for agricultural health and safety. She directed development of an action plan, leading to the National Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Initiative, implemented in 1996 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. She also chaired major efforts establishing voluntary standards for children's work in agriculture and for protecting nonworking children.
Since 1997, Barb has directed the NIOSH-funded National Children's Center. She is also senior associate editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Agromedicine.
Categories: Wisconsin, General