Three of Iowa’s front-line leaders for health promotion and disease prevention are being honored today, Thursday, Nov. 8 as Public Health Heroes by the University of Iowa's College of Public Health.

Sharon Guthrie, assistant professor of nursing at Mount Mercy University; Louise Lex, program coordinator at the Iowa Department of Public Health; and Laura Oliver, public information officer and immunization project director for Monona County Public Health, will be recognized at the 2012 Public Health Colloquium at the UI College of Public Health Building. The winners were nominated by their peers in the Iowa public health practice community.

Sue Curry, dean of the College of Public Health, says the award was established to increase awareness for the contributions by public health workers to improve wellness and to prevent diseases across Iowa. It will be given annually.

"Too often the work of public health is invisible, and we take for granted the essential services that Iowa’s public health professionals work so hard to provide all across our state," Curry says. "Whether it’s promoting physical activity to combat childhood obesity, protecting water supplies, or preventing the spread of communicable diseases, public health practitioners are vital to making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation."

Here's some information on this year's winners.

- Guthrie, of Cedar Rapids, has been a dedicated leader supporting the health of Iowa children through public health policy advocacy and as a practicing nurse and educator. Her efforts include promoting school nursing programs in Iowa and expanding the availability of mental health-screening programs for school-age youth. Guthrie is a graduate of the UI College of Nursing.

- Lex, of Des Moines, has worked as a state health planner coordinating community health assessment and health-improvement activities for nearly 30 years. Throughout her career at the state Department of Public Health, she has created and implemented community health interventions, supported advocacy efforts, coordinated and led the Iowa Governor’s Conferences on Public Health, and spearheaded the Healthy Iowans initiative.

- Oliver of Onawa, Iowa, has worked for Monona County Public Health since 1991. She has led the improvement of numerous community services, including maternal health services, child health clinics, immunizations, home health, communications, and community coalition building for health improvement.