MORGANTOWN, WV, June 25, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ian Rockett has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Rockett currently serves as an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, a role he has held since 2018. In this capacity, he continues to contribute to academic research and education, focusing on the intersection of epidemiology and mental health. Concurrently, he holds the title of emeritus professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, a distinction he has held since retiring from full-time faculty duties in 2018.

From 2002 to 2018, Dr. Rockett was a professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the Department of Community Medicine, which later evolved into the School of Public Health. His research during this period centered on the undercounting and misclassification of suicide deaths, with particular emphasis on the complexities surrounding drug overdose fatalities. Dr. Rockett's work highlighted the challenges faced by medical examiners and coroners in distinguishing intentional overdoses from accidental ones, especially in cases lacking clear evidence, such as suicide notes or documented psychiatric histories.

Prior to his appointment at West Virginia University, Dr. Rockett was a full professor in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1996 to 2002. He initially joined the university as an associate professor in 1988 and advanced to tenured full professor three years later. He spent his first six years at this university teaching epidemiology and biostatistics in the Department of Health, Leisure and Safety. While in Tennessee, Dr. Rockett conducted a statewide study assessing unmet substance abuse treatment needs among emergency department patients. This project revealed significant gaps in care for individuals struggling with addiction.

Dr. Rockett's earlier career included four years with the State of Rhode Island Department of Health, where he specialized in injury epidemiology. He designed and implemented a statewide study on motor vehicle traffic trauma based in hospital emergency departments during a period when Rhode Island was striving to enact pioneering seatbelt legislation. His efforts contributed valuable data that informed public health policy and demonstrated the life-saving impact of seatbelt use.

From 1983 to 1984, Dr. Rockett held a visiting professorship at Brown University, teaching demography and sociology. This followed his appointment as a senior research fellow in the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Melbourne in Australia in 1982, where he began focusing on epidemiology as well as demography.

Earlier academic roles included teaching demography within the Department of Actuarial Science at Macquarie University in Sydney from 1980 to 1981 and serving as an educator at Western University for three years during his doctoral studies. Dr. Rockett's teaching career began internationally as a high school teacher for two and a half years in Australia and two years in Canada.

Dr. Rockett is recognized as a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, reflecting his professional standing within the field.

His academic foundation includes a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University, which provided advanced training in epidemiology that shaped his subsequent research trajectory. Earlier, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in demography with a minor in medical sociology at Brown University, equipping him with expertise that would underpin his investigations into mortality trends and suicide misclassification. Dr. Rockett also holds a Master of Arts in sociology from Western University in Canada, further strengthening his analytical skills. Previous academic achievements include a postgraduate Diploma in education from the University of Western Australia, completed, and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the same university.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rockett has credited his service-oriented mindset as foundational to his success—a value instilled by his parents and reinforced by influential professors throughout his education. He has consistently sought to balance rigorous scientific inquiry with advocacy for public health improvements while remaining mindful not to compromise objectivity.

Dr. Rockett's contributions extend beyond academia through volunteer service as a reviewer for scholarly journals and grant funding agencies and participation in church-related activities. His commitment to excellence has been recognized with several honors, including research and teaching awards from West Virginia University and a service award from the College of Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His student awards included Population Council, Canada Council and Ontario Graduate fellowships.

A prolific author, Dr. Rockett published "Hidden Suicides and Fatal Overdoses: A Forward Path" through Johns Hopkins University Press in January 2026. This book encapsulates nearly two decades of research into suicide misclassification and offers forward-thinking solutions for improving medicolegal death investigation systems.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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