In the realm of intimate partner and sexual violence prevention, few names are as influential and respected as Dr. Linda Saltzman. Her groundbreaking work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control helped to define the entire field of domestic violence. She became one of CDC’s top experts on violence and one of the violence prevention movement’s most trusted allies.
Raised by accomplished Indiana University academics—Dr. Irving J. Saltzman, longtime chair of the department of psychological and brain sciences and Dorothy J. Saltzman, clinical psychologist in the department of speech, language and hearing sciences—Linda and her siblings often discussed current events around the dinner table and were held to high standards for achievement. Linda chose to follow in her parents’ footsteps by excelling in rigorous academic settings and earning a PhD in a field focused on human behavior. According to her brother, Rob Saltzman, “Linda was definitely motivated to be successful. She attended Brown University (Pembroke College at the time) and studied psychology. She was an over-achiever, so attending Brown fit nicely.” Linda graduated with honors and went on to earn a PhD in criminology from Florida State University. Prior to her CDC tenure, she served on the faculty of Mankato State University.
In 1984, Linda accepted a visiting scientist role at CDC. As the first criminologist hired at CDC, her work became so invaluable that she left academia only three years later and joined CDC as a permanent behavioral scientist. Linda was a mentor at heart and over her many years in the Division of Violence Prevention she worked with and encouraged numerous junior scientists. “As I got to know Linda, I realized she was a trailblazer for the intimate partner violence and sexual violence work at CDC," said colleague Dr. Kathleen Basile. "She joined CDC before violence prevention work was established, and before a Division of Violence Prevention existed. Her work and leadership contributed greatly to making the Division of Violence Prevention a reality. She was humble and down to earth at work, but I gained a larger perspective on who she was the first time we attended a violence prevention conference together. I quickly realized how well known and well respected she was in the larger violence prevention field. She was like a celebrity rockstar, and everyone wanted to meet her, talk to her and compliment her work! Of course they did, because she was the well-published CDC scientist who had done so much to influence the field of intimate partner and sexual violence prevention in terms of definitions, measurement, data collection, and much more. I felt important just walking through the conference halls with her.”
Linda and Skunk
Dr. Linda Saltzman and her partner Dr. Charlie Weeks
Dr. Linda Saltzman
Understanding the need for uniform definitions in the field of violence prevention, Linda led the development and testing of standardized definitions for intimate partner and sexual violence. Her efforts greatly improved the effectiveness of data collection, building a solid foundation for further research. Her work, Intimate Partner Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements, is still considered a seminal resource in the field.
One of Linda’s primary areas of focus was public health surveillance of violence against women, with a particular emphasis on violence related to pregnancy and other reproductive health issues. Her work in this area was instrumental in bringing awareness to the links between intimate partner violence and pregnancy and her scholarship in this area has informed prevention and promoted health equity. CDC recognized her as “a visionary in championing violence prevention efforts,” and in 2000 she rose to distinguished fellow and senior scientist. She worked tirelessly at CDC for 21 years until her untimely death in 2005.
Linda is remembered for her remarkable ability to connect research to policy and science to advocacy. She built bridges that facilitated productive dialogues between researchers, advocates, policy makers and healthcare professionals. Her ability to foster these connections made her an indispensable asset to CDC and the broader violence prevention community.
She was a trailblazer for the intimate partner violence and sexual violence work at CDC. She joined CDC before violence prevention work was established, and before a Division of Violence Prevention existed. Her work and leadership contributed greatly to making the Division of Violence Prevention a reality.
Linda is also remembered for her thoughtfulness, kindness and commitment to those she knew and loved. At her memorial service, her friends, family and colleagues celebrated Linda’s deep regard for others. “Linda was the most caring person I have ever known," said her partner, Dr. Charlie Weeks. "She had an all-encompassing capacity for love that transcended her entire universe.”
“She very much wanted to make a difference in the world, and there is no doubt that she succeeded admirably," her colleague, Susan Joseph remarked. "She has had a major impact on me and fostered my personal and professional growth. She personified the epitome of a true human being, constantly striving to live a life loving all of God’s creatures; she was honest with others and herself, and she was committed to being the best she could be.”
“Linda was an intense, productive, energetic and brilliant person with a strong passion for all the things she cared about, including her partner Charlie, her family, her cats, her friends, her hobbies such as ballroom dancing and jazzercise classes, and of course, her violence prevention work," her colleague and friend, Dr. Kathleen Basile shared. "Her spirit lives on in the many professionals she mentored and in the many lives she enriched and improved through her commitment and dedication.”
To honor Linda’s professional contributions, including her mentorship of new scientists and students, her family worked with the CDC Foundation to establish the Linda E. Saltzman Memorial Award endowed fund in 2005. Housed at the CDC Foundation, the fund currently supports the Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award, which recognizes outstanding new investigators in the field of domestic violence, violence against women or dating violence. The award recipient is selected in collaboration with Futures Without Violence and a committee of experts and is presented every other year at the National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence.
Linda’s brother Rob shared, “this endowed fund is a way to honor her commitment to promoting the careers of younger scientists, and her groundbreaking research on domestic and intimate partner violence, and violence against women. Since much of Linda’s career was at the CDC, it seemed fitting to house the endowed fund at the CDC Foundation.”
Exemplified by her relentless dedication to understanding and preventing intimate partner and sexual violence, Linda has left a lasting impact. Her legacy continues to guide and inspire those who carry on the work she so passionately pursued. At the CDC Foundation, we honor her memory by upholding the Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award and continuing to seek solutions toward preventing domestic violence for a safer, healthier world.
