Association Staff also Acknowledged in Second Annual Employee Recognition Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Paige Rohe, prohe@chronicdisease.org, 404-924-8295

ATLANTA (Sept. 16, 2020) —The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is proud to announce the winners of this year’s prestigious Impact Awards, announced during the Association’s Annual Business Meeting today. These awards recognize outstanding work in chronic disease prevention and health promotion. Awardees are nominated and selected by their peers using a rubric that emphasizes impact in reducing the burden of chronic disease in states and territories. The Association also announced the winners of the 2020 Employee Recognition Awards, which are nominated and selected by NACDD staff based on exceptional service to the organization.

“Our Members and our staff work tirelessly to help ensure a healthier future for all across the United States, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact people with chronic conditions,” said NACDD CEO John Robitscher, MPH. “The Impact Awards and our internal, Employee Recognition Awards represent some of the best and most innovative work in our field. We are honored to highlight and celebrate the exceptional efforts and dedication of these awardees.”

About the 2020 Impact Awards:

NACDD’s annual Impact Awards provide those who work in the field of chronic disease with an opportunity to be recognized for best practices in chronic disease prevention and health promotion, and other contributions that go beyond public health. NACDD’s Awards Committee, made up of Members and staff, reviews all nominations and announces recipients in the fall.

Impact Awardees must be an NACDD Member. (To be an NACDD Member, you must be a public health professional working in chronic disease prevention and control.) More information on NACDD Membership and the Impact Awards is available at chronicdisease.org.

CHRONIC DISEASE INNOVATOR AWARD: Pamela Geis, Health Promotion Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

The Chronic Disease Innovator Award is presented to a State or Territorial Health Department’s Chronic Disease Unit or staff member who demonstrates an innovative approach to reducing the burden of chronic disease. Geis was instrumental in helping Wisconsin’s prison system become the first in the nation to obtain full-recognition status as a supplier of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program. In addition, Geis is commended for mentorship of her staff and her leadership as co-chair of the Diabetes Council Leadership Group Mentoring.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD: Jodi Spicer, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Consultant, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

This award is given to an individual or team that has made a significant impact or has achieved significant influence in a community related to chronic disease prevention and control. In her work, Spicer fostered a culture of inquiry and exploration that opened the door for staff to learn by testing innovative and collaborative actions to advance work on ACEs. She also disseminated key learnings from her work in presentations at the 2019 Chronic Disease Academy, NACDD ECHO clinics, and the 2019 NACDD GEAR Group on Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences.  

RISING STAR AWARD: Katherine McBurney, BSHM, RDH, CPHQ Oral Health Consultant, Iowa Department of Public Health

The Rising Star Award is given to an individual staff member in a state, tribal, or territorial Chronic Disease Unit who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and problem-solving skills. McBurney is being recognized for her leadership in the Oral & Health Delivery System’s I-Smile Silver program as well as her work with partners to advance opportunities to enhance integrated health.

PROVENTION NATIONAL PREVENTION PARTNER AWARD: Genevieve Jean-Bart Fadayomi, MBA, Associate Director of U.S. Corporate Sustainability & Social Impact at Novo Nordisk

This year, NACDD leadership and the ProVention Health Foundation (NACDD’s sister foundation) selected Genevieve Jean-Bart Fadayomi for this exclusive award from among dozens of NACDD partners as the partner who has had the most impact on chronic disease prevention that year. The ProVention Health Foundation especially was impressed by Fadayomi’s steadfast vision to impact the spread of diabetes in Mississippi by funding an implementation strategy to improve access to the Diabetes Prevention Program across the state. ProVention also selected Novo Nordisk for this award because of its long history of diabetes prevention work.  

About the 2020 Employee Recognition Awards:

For its second year in a row, the NACDD Employee Recognition Committee issued awards to staff members from varying levels of seniority and tenure. The awards, themselves, are developed by the Committee to exemplify NACDD core values and service to the Association’s Mission. Staff members nominated each other for the Awards, with the final selection being made by the Committee. The Awards were announced earlier this month during a special Employee Recognition Ceremony held virtually.

CEO AWARD: Tamika Smith, MBA, MS Senior Director of Project Management (PMO) and Member Services

NACDD’s highest employee honor, the CEO Award is presented by the CEO to an outstanding employee who exemplifies excellence, dedication, collaboration, and integrity, and who has made a substantial and long-lasting impact on the Association. Smith is generous in sharing her expertise with others while also fostering an environment that gives everyone a voice. Her creativity and leadership has been an integral part of the Association’s growth.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWARD: Ann Marie Shields, MSW, Program Evaluator

This award recognizes an employee who has had an impact on others. Shields demonstrates a sincere cooperative attitude, and she builds the morale of others through her actions and positivity. Her efforts and contributions go above and beyond her job role.

LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD: Stacey Evans, Communications Specialist

This award recognizes a staff member that has made significant contributions and demonstrates exceptional leadership. Evans motivates and mentors the professional development of others and brings out the best in her teammates and collaborators. She maintains a high level of integrity and consistently performs high-quality work.

SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Shelby Roberts, MPH, Portfolio Manager for the Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Programs

This award recognizes an employee who has recently joined the organization and is on their way to becoming a star performer. Roberts exhibits outstanding performance in her role and promotes a positive image of NACDD and an exceptional commitment to the organization’s Mission.

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About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

Promoting Health. Preventing Disease.

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and its more than 7,000 Members seek to strengthen state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in states and nationally. Established in 1988, in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NACDD is the only membership association of its kind to serve and represent every chronic disease division in all states and U.S. territories. For more information, visit chronicdisease.org.