Each year, PHANYC is pleased to honor individuals and organizations with several awards for their noteworthy contributions to the public health field. As a benefit of membership in PHANYC, members are asked to nominate individuals and organizations for these awards through a “Call for Nominations” for members only. The awards are presented at PHANYC's Annual Dinner and Meeting.
The Awards are as follows:
- Haven Emerson Award
- Allan Rosenfield Award for Public Health and Social Justice
- Special Merit Award
- Legislator of the Year Award
- Public Health Advocate Award
- Media Award
- Goldmann Student Merit Award
- Public Health Community Awards
Haven Emerson Award
The highest honor awarded by PHANYC, the Haven Emerson Award is reserved for those who have played a major
role in contributing to the public health of the City of New York. The 2009 Haven Emerson Award is given to Thomas
R. Frieden, MD, MPH, for his outstanding leadership and groundbreaking urban public health policies that protect the
health and well-being of the public.
Allan Rosenfield Award for Public Health and Social Justice
Created in 2007, this award honors Allan Rosenfield, the Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. The Allan Rosenfi eld Award for Public Health and Social Justice honors public health professionals who have made
significant contributions to improving public health by promoting social justice in New York City. The 2009 Allan
Rosenfi eld Award for Public Health and Social Justice is awarded to Wendy Chavkin, MD, MPH, for her extraoridinary
leadership and accomplishments in improving public health for women and reproductive rights by promoting social justice.
Special Merit Award
Given to individuals for public health practice excellence, the 2009 Special Merit Award is awarded to Dr. Walid Michelen, MD, the Chief of Staff and Director of Business Development and Grants for HHC’s
Generations Plus/Northern Manhattan Health Network for his outstanding contributions to the practice of public health in New York City, and Elisabeth Benjamin, MSPH, JD the Director of the New York Healthcare Restructuring Initiatives project at the Community Service
Society for her many extraordinary contributions to public health.
Legislator of the Year Award
Presented to a legislator who has devoted his or her public service to issues surrounding public health, the 2009 Legislator of
the Year Award is given to Thomas K. Duane, New York State Senator, and Health Committee Chair, for his commitment to and
leadership in improving the quality of life for the people of New York City.
Public Health Advocate Award
Bestowed upon an individual who has made outstanding contributions to public health in New York City through coalition-building and advocacy, the 2009 Public Health Advocate Award is shared between Asfaha Hadera, founder of the Committee to Aid Ethiopian Refugees, and Dr. Marjorie Hill, PhD, the Chief Executive Offi cer of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the oldest AIDS service and
advocacy organization in the world, for their outstanding contributions and advocacy of public health improvements in New York City.
Media Award
Reserved for those in the media who have made major contributions to public health information and education both
locally and nationally, the 2009 Media Award winner is Max Gomez, Medical Reporter, WCBS-TV, for his outstanding
contributions to the promotion and education of public health improvements.
