Robert S. Gold
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert S. Gold is an accomplished researcher and nationally known expert in the application of computer technology to health education and health promotion. His publications include: more than seventy research and evaluation articles; dozens of pieces of software for organizations such as the American Cancer Society
and the Department of Defense
; commercially published software including HealthQuest and ABLEDATA; and several textbooks. Dr. Gold is Professor of Health Education and Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park
.
He earned an Associate of Science from Orange County Community College
in 1967, followed by a B.S. in biology from the State University of New York at Brockport
in 1969. He earned his M.S. in health education at the same school two years later. Dr. Gold earned a PhD in health education from the University of Oregon
in 1976, and a DrPH with a specialization in community health practice from the University of Texas School of Public Health
at Houston in 1980.
He was an instructor in SUNY Brockport’s Department of Health Science (1970–1974) before earning his PhD and returned there as Assistant Professor from 1976 through 1978 after completing the degree. While working on his second doctorate, he served as an evaluator for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
. He next joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale (SIUC) in 1980 as Associate Professor of Health Education.
He received a leave of absence from SIUC in 1984 to serve as Director of the School Health Initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park
as Professor of Health Education. From 1988 through 1989, he joined the World Health Organization
where he was invited to help re-establish WHO's Division of Health Education/Health Promotion. In 1990, he began dividing his time between the University of Maryland and Macro International where he became Vice President and director of public health research in 1994.
In 1999, he returned to a full-time faculty position at the University of Maryland and became Chair of UMD's Department of Public and Community Health. Since July 2002, Dr. Gold has been Dean of the School of Public Health (College of Health and Human Performance prior to 2005) at the University of Maryland at College Park. He is also the director of the Public Health Informatics Lab at UMD, a research and evaluation lab that heavily emphasizes multimedia-based training and educational applications.
Dr. Gold is internationally renowned for his expertise in the application of advanced technologies to health education, ranging from interactive video and computer software, to knowledge management, decision support, and expert systems technology. His leadership in this field began during his years at SUNY Brockport, where he partnered with David F. Duncan
, DrPH in offering the nation’s first course on computers in health education. In 1980, Drs. Gold and Duncan published two papers that spurred interest in the use of computers in health education. The second of these was one of the first publications to explore the potential of personal computers. Several years later, at Southern Illinois University
, Drs. Gold and Duncan taught the first course on PC-based health education. During his tenure at SIUC he spent several summers at the University of Cologne
where he collaborated with Prof. Klaus Klein
in developing pioneering applications of computers in health education. Beginning in 1983, Dr. Gold wrote a regular column in the Journal of Health Education entitled Computing Health, which continued to establish his reputation as the leader in the field.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
and the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
; commercially published software including HealthQuest and ABLEDATA; and several textbooks. Dr. Gold is Professor of Health Education and Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
He earned an Associate of Science from Orange County Community College
Orange County Community College
Orange County Community College, or SUNY Orange, is a unit of the State University of New York offering two year associates degrees. The College, with its main campus in Middletown, New York was founded in 1950, making it the first county-sponsored community college in the SUNY system...
in 1967, followed by a B.S. in biology from the State University of New York at Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
in 1969. He earned his M.S. in health education at the same school two years later. Dr. Gold earned a PhD in health education from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1976, and a DrPH with a specialization in community health practice from the University of Texas School of Public Health
University of Texas School of Public Health
The University of Texas School of Public Health is one of eight component institutions of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ....
at Houston in 1980.
He was an instructor in SUNY Brockport’s Department of Health Science (1970–1974) before earning his PhD and returned there as Assistant Professor from 1976 through 1978 after completing the degree. While working on his second doctorate, he served as an evaluator for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Department of State Health Services is a state agency of Texas. The department was created by House Bill 2292 of the 78th Texas Legislature in 2003 through the merging of four state agencies: the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas...
. He next joined the faculty of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
at Carbondale (SIUC) in 1980 as Associate Professor of Health Education.
He received a leave of absence from SIUC in 1984 to serve as Director of the School Health Initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
as Professor of Health Education. From 1988 through 1989, he joined the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
where he was invited to help re-establish WHO's Division of Health Education/Health Promotion. In 1990, he began dividing his time between the University of Maryland and Macro International where he became Vice President and director of public health research in 1994.
In 1999, he returned to a full-time faculty position at the University of Maryland and became Chair of UMD's Department of Public and Community Health. Since July 2002, Dr. Gold has been Dean of the School of Public Health (College of Health and Human Performance prior to 2005) at the University of Maryland at College Park. He is also the director of the Public Health Informatics Lab at UMD, a research and evaluation lab that heavily emphasizes multimedia-based training and educational applications.
Dr. Gold is internationally renowned for his expertise in the application of advanced technologies to health education, ranging from interactive video and computer software, to knowledge management, decision support, and expert systems technology. His leadership in this field began during his years at SUNY Brockport, where he partnered with David F. Duncan
David F. Duncan
David F. Duncan, Dr. P.H. was born in Kansas City, Missouri on June 26, 1947. He is President of Duncan & Associates, a firm providing consultation on research design and data collection for behavioral and policy studies. He is also Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health...
, DrPH in offering the nation’s first course on computers in health education. In 1980, Drs. Gold and Duncan published two papers that spurred interest in the use of computers in health education. The second of these was one of the first publications to explore the potential of personal computers. Several years later, at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, Drs. Gold and Duncan taught the first course on PC-based health education. During his tenure at SIUC he spent several summers at the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
where he collaborated with Prof. Klaus Klein
Klaus Klein
Klaus Klein, Dr.rer.nat. is Professor of Biology and of Health Education and Director of the Health Education Research Unit at the University of Cologne in Cologne, Germany. He was the first faculty member at any European university to hold the title of professor of health education.A renowned...
in developing pioneering applications of computers in health education. Beginning in 1983, Dr. Gold wrote a regular column in the Journal of Health Education entitled Computing Health, which continued to establish his reputation as the leader in the field.