Kristie Foley, PhD, MS, Professor and Chair of the Department of Implementation Science was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Education and Psychology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, on May 10, 2024. She is the first woman to receive this distinction for her influential work in tobacco control and implementation science.
Dr. Foley’s journey in Hungary began in 2007 as a Fulbright Scholar at Semmelweis University. She later secured a $1.5 million NIH grant to support Hungarian scientists in tobacco research aligned with World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER measures. Her efforts significantly contributed to Hungary's progressive tobacco control policies.
In 2012, Dr. Foley expanded her research to Romania with a $1.3 million grant, using a "train the trainer" approach. Her work continued as a Fulbright Specialist in 2016 at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureş, Romania, focusing on research ethics and tobacco control. Currently, Dr. Foley leads ongoing research projects in Eastern Europe, including smoking cessation among pregnant women in Romania. Appointed Chair of the Department of Implementation Science in 2017, she bridges research and health system needs. In 2021, she completed the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) program.