Pekka Puska

Pekka Puska (born 18 February 1945) is a Finnish physician, researcher, and politician who has made significant contributions to public health on a global scale. He is best known for his work on the North Karelia Project, a large-scale public health program in Finland that aimed to reduce the high rates of cardiovascular disease in the region.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Puska was born in Helsinki, Finland. He studied medicine at the University of Helsinki, where he also completed his PhD. His doctoral thesis focused on the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing his studies, Puska joined the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland. He worked there for over 30 years, eventually serving as its Director General.

In 1972, Puska initiated the North Karelia Project, a comprehensive community-based intervention aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease in North Karelia, a region of Finland with the highest mortality rate from the disease in the world. The project involved a wide range of strategies, including dietary changes, smoking cessation programs, and physical activity promotion. It achieved significant reductions in cardiovascular disease rates and has been used as a model for similar programs worldwide.

Puska has also worked for the World Health Organization (WHO), where he served as Director of the Division of Noncommunicable Diseases. In this role, he led global efforts to combat diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

In addition to his work in public health, Puska has been involved in politics. He was elected to the Parliament of Finland in 2019 as a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland.

Awards and Honors[edit | edit source]

Puska has received numerous awards and honors for his work in public health. These include the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health, the Hugh Leavell Award for Outstanding Contributions to Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and the Paul Dudley White International Lecture award from the American Heart Association.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Pekka Puska Resources
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