By Jonathan Meoli, Special to the Register

As he completed the pre-med program at City College of Brooklyn, the new field of public health caught Michael Perlin’s eye.

Curious, he stayed for an extra semester to give the classes a shot, and ultimately, began what would be a 42-year career of service to his fellow man.

Now a professor emeritus of public health after 29 years at Southern Connecticut State University, Perlin continues to be recognized for his remarkable contributions to the field. His work was recently acknowledged by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in a gubernatorial proclamation.

The Connection, a nonprofit community development agency, also this spring acted as host for a luncheon in Perlin’s honor.

The organization also christened one of its pre-trial education programs the Michael J. Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention.

Almost 30 years ago, after serving on the New York State Drinking Driver Program, Perlin was asked to co-author Connecticut’s Pretrial Alcohol Education System.

At that time, Connecticut had no such programs. Perlin’s experience helped draft the plan the Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention still employs today.

The Perlin Center provides an eight-week drug education program and a 10- or 15-week alcohol abuse program. Both are meant to limit repeat offenses and identify offenders who need more comprehensive treatment.

Upon successful completion of the program, first-time offenders can have the criminal charge removed from their record.

Perlin, a member of Also-Cornerstones’ board of directors and chairman of the board’s Program Committee until the public health organization was absorbed by The Connection this year, was very appreciative of the accolades. Continued...

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“The luncheon, the renaming of the pre-trial program and the proclamation — it was such a generous thing for people to do,” he said. “It’s humbling.”

Such praise has become regular for Perlin, who was vital to the reaccreditation of Southern’s Public Health Department, which recently gained a seven-year accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Perlin said public health was more of a vocation than a job. His two children, Jared and Jordyn, who he proudly quips have been honor students since before they were born, constantly reminded him private medicine would have been more lucrative.

But Perlin, who came from a family of physicians, was drawn to the humane, preventive measures public health took. He said he has no regrets.

His passion, especially for guiding educating and mentoring others, has also been rewarded.

He received the 2009 Health Education Mentor Award from the Society for Public Health Education and the C-EA Winslow Award from the Connecticut Public Health Association for achievement and leadership in public health practice, research, and education.

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