Nominees for 2011 GlaxoSmithKline Child Health Recognition Awards

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation has announced nominees from across the state for the 2011 GlaxoSmithKline Child Health Recognition Awards. The awards are designed to showcase exceptional passion, teamwork and innovative programs that improve the health and safety of North Carolina's children.

A selection committee of healthcare professionals chosen by the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) evaluates the nominations. A ceremony honoring nominees and award recipients will be held at the Charlotte Hilton University Place in Charlotte on Wednesday, Sept. 21, during NCPHA's Annual Meeting.

This year's awards focus on outstanding collaborative programs that affect the health of children in all nomination categories. Following are nominees for this year's awards:

The Lifetime Achievement Recognition Award, given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to improving children's health services through a series of achievements:

• Olson Huff, MD, FAAP; Physician/Child Advocate, Black Mountain

The Individual Recognition Award, given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to improving children's health services through a single effort:

• Amina Ahmed, MD; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte
• Debbie Biggerstaff, Innovative Approaches Coordinator, Cabarrus Health Alliance, Kannapolis
• Christopher M. Cerjan, MD; Medical Director of Cleveland County Asthma Coalition, Shelby Children's Clinic, Shelby
• Christopher Dyer, DMD; Michelle McDonald, DDS; Robby Cahill, Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, Cashiers
• Miriam H. Labbok, MD, MPH; Professor of Practice of Public Health, Director of Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Chapel Hill
• Beth Lamanna, WHNP, MPH, RN; Clinical Assistant Professor, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill
• Grace Liem, NP; Family Nurse Practitioner, Community Free Clinic, Concord
• Elizabeth Rukenbrod, FNP; Family Nurse Practitioner, Union County Health Department, Monroe
• Mary Beth Thorn, MMS, PA-C; Physician Assistant, Coastal Children's Clinic, New Bern

The Public Health Staff Recognition Award, given to full-time or part-time employee or retiree of local health departments in recognition of outstanding service in preventive health activities in their local communities:

• Amy Belflower-Thomas, MSPH, CPH; Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Pitt County Health Department, Greenville
• Sharon Cope Boger, RDH; Public Health Dental Hygienist, NC Oral Health Section, NC Department of Public Health, Mocksville
• Eric C. Nickens, Jr.; Health Education Supervisor, Alamance County Health Department, Burlington
• Gayle Olson; Pediatric Asthma Care Manager, Albemarle Regional Health Services, Elizabeth City
• Kathleen Shapley-Quinn, MD; Medical Director, Alamance County Health Department, Burlington

The Local Health Department Recognition Award, given to departments that have developed innovative programs producing measurable, sustainable outcomes:

• Catawba County Public Health, Hickory
• Cleveland County Health Department, Cleveland County Asthma Coalition, Shelby
• Guilford County Department of Public Health, School Nurses Kindergarten Health Assessment Clinic Project, Greensboro
• New Hanover County Health Department, Refugee Health Program, Wilmington
• Pitt County Health Department, Child Care Health Consultants Program, Greenville
• Pitt County Health Department, Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Greenville
• Union County Health Department, Immunization Program, Monroe
• Wilkes County Health Department, Bright Futures Program, Wilkesboro
• Wilson County Health Department, Operation Vaccination, Wilson

The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation supports activities that help meet the educational and health needs of today's society and future generations. The Foundation focuses on programs that emphasize the understanding and application of health, science and education at all academic and professional levels.

SOURCE North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation