Annual Conference awards

Each year at our Annual Meeting we have the honor of presenting several awards for outstanding service in the field of public health. Stay tuned to this space for information about our 2023 Awards.

We are seeking nominees for the following awards:

• Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State – recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership efforts.
• Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State – recognizes an organization for outstanding leadership.
• Hermann M. Biggs Memorial Medal and Certificate - this lifetime achievement award, honors and recognizes an individual with demonstrated outstanding achievements in public health in New York State.
• Legislator of the Year Award – recognizes a legislator who has been a public health champion and who has been supportive of public health issues. 
• Membership Award – recognizes a member for their contributions to public health and NYSPHA.
• Local Health Department Health Equity COVID-19 Response Award - recognizes a local health department or professional for provision of exemplary health equity initiatives led during their COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Local Health Department Innovative Core Public Health Initiative Award - awards a local health department or professional who led an innovative public health intervention during the pandemic that is NON-COVID response related. This intervention or practice may include demonstration of advancing the promotion of health, wellness, disease prevention, disability, and injury throughout New York State. Honorees should exemplify leadership in local public health in any or all of the following areas:
• • Innovative programming
  • Emergency management
  • Policy development or leadership
  • Promotion of the value of public health
  • Public health-related advocacy efforts
• Environmental Health Leadership Award – recognizes a department or individual that has made longstanding contributions to the field of public health through work within a local health department or a state district or regional office.
  

2021 Award Recipients

Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State (Individual): Dr. Kevin Watkins, MD, MPH | Public Health Director, Cattaraugus County Health Department

Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State (Organization): Center for Community Health & Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC)

Legislator of the Year Award: Andrew Hevesi, Member of Assembly

Local Leadership: Peggy DiManno, BSN, MS | Special Project Executive NYSACHO

State Leadership: Dr. Gus Birkhead, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics School of Public Health, University of Albany

2019 Award Recipients

Local Health Department Award: Rockland County Department of Health

Citation  for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health (Organization): NYS Association of County Health Officials

Citation  for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health (Individual): Linda Beers, Essex County Public Health

Hermann M. Biggs Award: Gail Wechsler

NYSPHA Member of the Year Award: Chrystal Johnson 

Legislator of the Year Award: Joe Giordano

2018 Award Recipients

Citation  for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health (Organization): POW'R

Citation  for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health (Individual): Gail Burstein, Erie County 

Hermann M. Biggs Award: Irina Gelman  

NYSPHA Member of the Year Award: Karen Hall

2017 Award Recipients

Citation  for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health (Organization): FamilyCook Productions

2016 Award Recipients

 

Hermann Biggs Memorial Award:

Dr. Perry Halkitis, PhD, MPH

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of NYU College of Global Public Health 

 

 

 Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State (Organization):

Karen Laing

CEO and Founder, Health Literacy for All Inc.

 

Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State (Individual)

 

Judy Rightmyer

Director, Capital District Tobacco Free Coalition 

2015 Award Recipients

Hermann Biggs Memorial Award

Donald Rowe, PhD

School of Public Health  and Health Professions, University at Buffalo

Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State Award (Organization)

Amy Klein

Executive Director of Capital Roots

Outstanding Leadership in Public Health in New York State Award (Individual)

Cynthia Morrow, M.D., MPH

Maxwell School of Syracuse University

Leadership in Public Health Policy Award

Tim Nichols

Albany County Legislator

2015 NYSPHA Membership Award

Lee W. Livermore

Upstate New York Poison Center

2015 Student Poster Awards

First Place and Members' Choice Winning Poster:  "Immunization A Tool to Bridge Population Health"

Poster created by Jilllian Annunziata, Alexis Adusei, Christina Bryce, Rosaria Camarda, Dawn French, Shukura Jacobs, Zulgarnain Javed, Ubanni Odigo, Julia Telfer, and Chris Wray

New York Medical College School of Health Science and Practice

Second Place Winning Poster:  "The Impact of High Deductible Health Plans on Preventive Care Use"

Poster Created by Daniel Write

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Third Place Winning Poster:  "Working at Wellness-Crouse Hospital's Worksite Wellness Program"

Poster Created by Katherine Jwaskiewicz

SUNY Upstate Medical University