National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) Announces Award Winners, Inducts 2009 Board Members at Annual Meeting in Seattle
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) announced the recipients of its annual awards at the NACDD Awards Ceremony and Banquet, which occurred on the first day of its annual Chronic Disease Academy, held this year in Seattle, WA. The organization, a national public health association representing the chronic disease program directors of each state and U. S. territory, also inducted its newest board members.
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) March 27, 2009
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) announced the recipients of its annual awards at the NACDD Awards Ceremony and Banquet, which occurred on the first day of its annual Chronic Disease Academy, held this year in Seattle, WA. The organization, a national public health association representing the chronic disease program directors of each state and U. S. territory, also inducted its newest board members.
"These awards honor colleagues who have gone above and beyond in their mission to implement programs that better treat, manage and reduce chronic disease rates in their communities," said John Robitscher, NACDD Executive Director. "The winners of this year's awards have created innovative, successful programs to raise national awareness of the crushing health and financial impact of chronic disease and have advocated for increased attention to this issue."
NACDD presented four awards at the Awards Ceremony and Banquet. The winners were nominated by their peers. The awards and winners were:
Award for Excellence in the Prevention of Chronic Disease Winner: Karen Coats, Deputy Program Manager, Utah Heart Disease & Stroke Program
"Spearheaded Utah's Height and Weight Measurement Project and built relationships with partners, school nurses, local health departments, and school districts to collect data to establish state wide estimates for childhood overweight and obesity."
Outstanding Leadership Award Winner: David Hoffman, MeD, New York State Department of Health
"His efforts to establish effective communications with decision makers at all levels of government have touched our members in every state and territory."
Public Policy Award Winner: Harvey County Council of Governments; John Waltner, Mayor of Hesston
"Responding to a challenge, the county took a lead in addressing chronic disease issues among citizens with an action plan for clean indoor air, workplace wellness, and built environments."
Program Delivery Award Winner: Janine Kempker, Principal of Anthony Elementary
"Developed and implemented Eat, Exercise & Excel, a comprehensive wellness program that focuses on the whole child by improving nutrition and increasing physical activity."
At the meeting, NACDD also inducted new officers and directors to its Board of Directors.
New officers include President Victor Sutton, Ph. D., MPPA, Director of the Office of Preventive Health with the Mississippi State Department of Health; President-elect Donald Lyman, M. D., Chief of the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control at California Department of Public Health; and Treasurer Ramona Dawn Schaeffer, Director of the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Virginia Department of Health.
New directors include Heather Borski, M. P.H., CHES, Director of the Bureau of Health Promotion at the Utah Department of Health; Ann Forburger, M. S., Director of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Project (DPCP) for the Virginia Department of Health; and Steve Springer, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, Arthritis Program, at the Michigan Department of Community Health.
"We're pleased to welcome the newest members to our Board of Directors," said Robitscher. "Our staff and members look forward to working with these seasoned professionals as they engage in the quickly evolving national discussion regarding comprehensive health care reform."
About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a national public health association for chronic disease program directors of each state and U. S. territory. The NACDD works to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the American population by advocating for preventive policies and programs, encouraging sharing of knowledge and developing partnerships for health promotion. (www. chronicdisease. org).
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