Announced: Initial Health Improvement Awards for Local Communities
The Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards were presented last night at the University of Rochester Medical Center, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to community health in the greater Rochester region.
These prestigious awards, created by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in honour of Dr. David Satcher, are named after the 16th Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton. Dr. Satcher, the awards’ namesake, is currently serving as Chair and Co-Founder of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine and is a Senior Advisor at Elemental Advisors.
Dr. Satcher expressed his deep honour in having these awards named after him. Currently, he is the director of the Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, and Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
The awards this year recognised Nancy M. Bennett, M.D., director of the Center for Community Health, who stated that this year's awardees are powerful role models and their programs are examples of what can be achieved through academic-community partnerships.
Senator Jim Alesi received an honorary award for his advocacy and support for outreach and health education programs aimed at underserved populations. His efforts, according to Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of the medical center, are making a difference and improving the health of the most vulnerable in the community.
Peter Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H., was recognised for his 23 years as a leader in improving healthcare for underserved children, including a successful community-based program to reduce disparities in immunization rates.
Katrina Korfmacher, Ph.D., has spent the last decade focused on reducing lead exposure for children in Monroe County, culminating in a historic lead abatement ordinance passed by the City of Rochester in 2005.
Mardy Sandler, L.M.S.W., has worked for thirty-four years to improve the well-being of the community’s families, women, and children. Her programs like the Parent and Child Training Program (PACT) and Baby Love have reduced infant mortality, premature births, low birth weight rates, and neonatal intensive care unit admission rates.
The inaugural awards were given to the medical center’s faculty, staff, and community partners for efforts to improve care for underserved children, reduce lead poisoning, and provide outreach to at-risk mothers and children. Senator Alesi has also secured funding for the Center for Community Health's Healthy Living and Vida en Salud programs, a physical activity and health promotion program in the African American and Latino communities, and the Healthy Living Library, a unique educational community resource dedicated to health and wellness.
These awards serve as a testament to the dedication and hard work of individuals who are committed to improving community health in Rochester. Their contributions are invaluable, and their efforts are inspiring.
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