Ten New York Health Leaders Recognized With NYSHealth 10th-Anniversary Awards
October 20, 2016 (New York) – Ten leaders throughout New York State have been selected as New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) 10th-anniversary award recipients. Five individuals have received Luminary Awards in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to improve the health of New Yorkers over the last 10 years, and five nonprofit organizations have been recognized as Emerging Innovators poised to make radical improvements over the next 10 years.
“For NYSHealth’s 10th anniversary, it feels right both to recognize those who have done great work that we’ve supported and to bet on some up-and-comers who are poised to be the next generation of leaders and doers,” said David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation. “The winners are an impressive and diverse group, all working to improve the health of New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable.”
The Luminary Award winners, all past NYSHealth grantees who will receive $5,000 grant awards to their organizations, are:
- Elisabeth Benjamin, Community Service Society of New York
- Paloma Hernandez, Urban Health Plan
- Jerie Reid, Clinton County Health Department
- James Sutton, Rochester Regional Health
- Elizabeth Swain (posthumously), Community Health Care Association of New York State
“The Luminary Award recipients demonstrate commitment to the community, effective efforts to develop diverse partnerships, creative problem-solving, policy savvy, and tenacity in their work,” said James R. Knickman, Ph.D., former NYSHealth President and CEO and current Robert Derzon Chair in Health and Public Service at New York University, who served as head judge for the Luminary Awards. “And they’ve had meaningful, measurable impact on the health of New Yorkers: helping to secure health insurance coverage, provide quality primary care, connect refugees to health care, and protect and advance public health. These five leaders represent the very best of the best in New York State.”
Emerging Innovator Award winners will receive $25,000 grants for their organizations:
- Center for Active Design (New York City)
- Center for Law and Justice (Albany)
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House (New York City)
- Patton Veterans Project (New York City)
- Soul Fire Farm Institute (Rensselaer)
“The Emerging Innovators are using novel approaches to tackle issues as diverse as food access, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and post-traumatic stress,” said Jean-Luc Neptune, M.D., Partner at Blueprint Health and head judge for the Emerging Innovator Awards. “If these organizations can bring their work to scale, they could have a huge impact on the health and lives of New Yorkers in the next decade.”
The 10 award recipients were recognized today at an NYSHealth anniversary event in New York City.