Leigh Callahan, Ph.D., of Chapel Hill, N.C., Receives
Charles B. Harding Award for Distinguished Service

The Arthritis Foundation bestowed University of North Carolina researcher Leigh Callahan, Ph.D., with its highest nationwide volunteer award, the Charles B. Harding Award for Distinguished Service, during the foundation’s national meeting on Oct. 28, 2005, in Orlando.

“For more than 20 years, Leigh Callahan has been a dedicated advocate for the 66 million Americans with arthritis,” said Dr. John H. Klippel, president and CEO, Arthritis Foundation.  “Leigh has demonstrated a remarkable level of volunteer service at virtually every level and in every area of the Foundation’s work. Her contributions, passion and commitment are unparalleled. We are grateful for her devoted service to the Arthritis Foundation and the millions of Americans with arthritis – the nation’s number one cause of disability.”

Awarded annually by the Arthritis Foundation, the Charles B. Harding Award recognizes a volunteer who has provided leadership and direction to the Arthritis Foundation, given their time and talent generously to help others and has challenged other foundation volunteers to be their best.

During Dr. Callahan’s years as a volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, she has helped shape the direction of the Arthritis Foundation in multiple areas, serving on more than 20 national committees and task forces. She also has served on the national Board of Trustees as well as its Executive Committee as treasurer and as senior vice chair.  On the local level, Dr. Callahan has served on the board of four different community chapters and as volunteer chair of two of those chapters – including her current role as chair of the Carolinas Chapter.

Dr. Callahan’s professional life also is dedicated to advancing efforts in the fight against arthritis. Highly regarded as a researcher and teacher, with more than 100 professional publications and more than 100 invited speaking presentations related to arthritis, she is Director, Methodology Core at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill. She also is an associate professor in the Departments of Medicine, Orthopaedics, and Social Medicine as well as an adjunct associate professor for the Department of Epidemiology at UNC.