MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                July 20, 2010

                                                                                                                Peggy Stebbins, (406) 444-2135

   Richard Sargent, M.D., of St. Peter’s Medical Group-Broadway has been named Montana’s Family Physician of the Year by the Montana Academy of Family Physicians.

   A physician for residents of the Helena community since 1991, Dr. Sargent is passionate about public health and was recently recognized by his colleagues for going above and beyond to keep people healthy.  He worked tirelessly for several years to help create tobacco-free environments for the residents of Helena and many other communities.

   Dr. Sargent traveled to 20 states over two years with another Helena physician, Dr. Robert Shepard, to assist 22 communities in becoming smoke-free.  He sacrificed much of his personal time and income to selflessly pursue this public safety issue.  These doctors were also instrumental in establishing Helena’s Clean Indoor Air law and several national articles have been published about their study on the correlation between tobacco use and heart attacks.

   Vice Chairman of the Montana Tobacco Advisory Board, Dr. Sargent is also a member of the Montana Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Committee. He was a spokesman for the Montana tobacco control initiative in 2002 and tobacco tax initiative in 2004.  He presented his findings on the reduction in heart attacks associated with Helena’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance to the American College of Cardiology Scientific Assembly in April 2003, and published the final article in the British Medical Journal in April 2004.

   He has also spoken on Health Effects of Second Hand Smoke, Economic Effects of Clean Indoor Air Ordinances, Cessation Methods, Tobacco Use in Pregnancy, Fetal Effects of Tobacco Exposure, and Tobacco Use and Mental Illness.  In recognition of his distinguished service in public issues, the American Cancer Society awarded him their 2006 national advocacy award in Washington, D.C. 

   In addition, Dr. Sargent regularly speaks to the Helena community on various health and wellness topics and conducts numerous media interviews to help educate the public.  He focuses on prevention and teaches people the tools they need to empower themselves when it comes to their own health.

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