Nominate a Public Health Changemaker for a 2026 NACDD Impact Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) Impact Awards.
Each year, NACDD’s Impact Awards celebrate the individuals, teams, organizations, and partners advancing chronic disease prevention and public health across the nation. These awards recognize outstanding leadership, innovation, collaboration, and commitment among public health practitioners, state, tribal, and territorial health departments, and partners working to improve health outcomes in their communities.
Award categories include: Community Impact, Chronic Disease Innovator, Mentor Award, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement, and more. View all 2026 award categories below.
“Public health is built on the dedication of people who rarely seek recognition for their work,” said NACDD Interim CEO Jeanne Alongi, DrPH, MPH. “Taking the time to acknowledge a colleague or partner is a meaningful way to celebrate the commitment, compassion, and perseverance that define our field. If someone has inspired your work, supported your team, or made a meaningful contribution to your community, I encourage you to nominate them. Recognizing outstanding work reminds us of what’s possible.”
Nomination Requirements:
Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, July 24, 2026. Application forms are available online. Individuals may nominate themselves.
Nominees must be NACDD Members (with the exception of the Joseph W. Cullen Award). Learn more about NACDD Membership at chronicdisease.org/page/membership-overview.
Recipients will be announced in September as part of the 2026 Virtual Chronic Disease Academy.
List of Awards and Criteria
Health for All Award
(Individual or Team)
Presented to an individual or team whose work has expanded access to preventive health services and chronic disease programs for populations that have historically experienced challenges in engaging with public health systems. This award celebrates practical approaches that promote broader participation and improved health for individuals across varied communities and settings.
Chronic Disease Innovator Award
Awarded to a state, tribal, or territorial Chronic Disease Unit that demonstrates an innovative approach to reducing the burden of chronic disease prevention and control.
Community Impact Award
(Individual or Team)
NACDD offers this award for an individual and/or a Chronic Disease Unit team that has made a significant impact or achieved significant influence in a community related to chronic disease prevention and control.
Rising Star Award
Awarded to an individual staff member in a state, tribal, or territorial Chronic Disease Unit who is not a director and who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation.
Mentor Award
Awarded to an outstanding chronic disease prevention and control professional who has guided, supported, and promoted the training and career development of other chronic disease prevention and control practitioners working in a state, tribal, or territorial health department. Nominees should have a sustained record of mentoring and nominators must be mentees of the nominee or colleagues who have personal knowledge of the nominee’s mentoring efforts.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded to a current or former Chronic Disease Director of a state, tribal, or territorial health department whose career has contributed to reducing the burden of chronic disease in the United States.
Joseph W. Cullen Excellence Award
Awarded to an individual or organization outside the traditional public health field who has made outstanding contributions in the field of chronic disease.
Awards Qualifications
Eligible nominees must be NACDD Members listed in our Member roster (with the exception of the Joseph W. Cullen Award). To be an NACDD Member, you must be a public health professional working in chronic disease prevention and control. More information on NACDD Membership is available at chronicdisease.org/page/membership-overview.
Learn More:
Read the awards information sheet
Learn about NACDD Membership
