Center History


IPRCE (formerly known as Emory Center for Injury Control [ECIC]), was established in 1993 by Drs. Arthur L. Kellermann, Philip Graitcer, Ricardo Martinez, and Ms. Lisa Simmons with a mission to reduce injury-related morbidity and mortality.

Under the auspices of Emory School of Medicine and the Emory Rollins School of Public Health, the center began to address the most pressing issues of unintentional and intentional injury by bringing together the leading professionals in specialized areas of injury prevention. As a result, the professional diversity allowed the center to take on and sustain a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to reducing the impact of injury and violence.

IPRCE has a longstanding history facilitating collaboration, supporting innovative research, training practitioners and researchers, and helping bridge the gap between science and practice. The center continues to build on its legacy of excellence and strives to leave a mark on the history of injury prevention in Georgia.

The center was established in 1993 by Drs. Arthur L. Kellermann, Philip Graitcer, Ricardo Martinez, and Ms. Lisa Simmons. IPRCE approached injury control and prevention with three core activities: Research, Education and Training, and Community Outreach.

See how our leadership has grown

In 1996, the Injury Control fellowship was created to foster and advance Emergency Medicine physicians' knowledge of injury and violence. The current Associate Director of Education and Training, Dr. Sheryl Heron, became the first fellow. Years later, we still offer educational opportunities for physicians, public health professionals, and students.

Learn more about the opportunities available

In 2002, Dr. Debra Houry, newly selected center Associate Director, developed the Violence as a Public Health Problem course offered in Rollins School of Public Health. The course focused on epidemiology, surveillance, and prevention of interpersonal and self-directed violence. We continue to support up-and-coming health professionals through the Injury and Violence certificate program.

Find out more about the certificate program

From 2015-2016, Dr. David Wright served as the center Interim Director. He reorganized the center’s structure by establishing task forces to address the top five causes of injury in Georgia (injuries related to violence, drugs, transportation, traumatic brain injury, and falls). Our task force membership is steadily growing – see how each task force has made an impact on injury prevention.

View our task forces

In July 2019, Emory University received a $4.2 million award to fund the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory (IPRCE) for five years. Under the leadership of Drs. Jonathan Rupp and Sharon Nieb – the center continues to expand on the vision and mission.

Learn more about our center

See Our Full History