Public Health Recognition Awards

The nominations for the 2026 awards are coming soon. So set a reminder to come back in January for more information.

Individual Recognition Award: M. Pat West, MSSW

M. Pat West, MSSW, received the 2025 Individual Award from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s Section on Public Health and Preventive Medicine for more than 35 years of leadership in public health social work and forensic epidemiology. A co-founder of Colorado’s child death review, she helped establish Philadelphia’s Child Death Review with Dr. Don Schwarz and later created the Women’s Death Review Team, advancing multidisciplinary, confidential data sharing that improved interagency coordination, vital statistics accuracy, surveillance, and death classification. She helped build APHA’s Family Violence Prevention Forum, served on state and national advisory bodies, co-founded ALIVE, and earned honors from Drexel SPH, PPHA, and Women’s eNews. A founding Section member, she champions the College as a civic convenor for health equity.

Student Recognition Award: Eric Block and Ebony Powell

Eric Block is an MPH/Nutrition graduate student at Temple University’s College of Public Health. A gifted community educator, he translates complex nutrition and diabetes science into clear, actionable steps, connecting as a peer by sharing his own health journey, including a recent diagnosis that risks blindness. With additional degrees in kinesiology and health administration, he has volunteered more than 100 days since August 2024 with Temple programs and the Frazier Coalition, empowering hundreds of Philadelphians.

Ebony Powell is a Philadelphia-born dual-degree candidate (MPH and Master of City Planning) whose work bridges public health and equitable development. She has served with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative and PDPH’s Get Healthy Philly, and as a PennPraxis Design Fellow helped lead the West Philadelphia Community Engagement Project, guiding a Resident Working Group to allocate a $1.75 million Community Education Fund. She advanced zoning literacy through the Zoning Matters project and, as Director of Equitable Development for Rep. Cephas, secured a $500,000 federal grant for schoolyard upgrades. Her MPH capstone centers community leaders’ perspectives to inform violence-prevention strategies in Philadelphia’s 192nd district.

Organization Recognition Award: Broad Street Love

Broad Street Love is honored for its trauma-informed, dignity-first support to Philadelphians experiencing deep poverty. From its welcoming Center City space, the organization offers daily meals, mail services, personal care and hygiene items, and tailored guidance alongside supportive programs—practical help designed to ease the harms of scarcity and disrupt cycles of hunger and housing instability. Trusted by the community it serves, Broad Street Love’s consistent, respectful approach provides stabilization and connection, reducing trauma while helping guests navigate next steps toward safety, health, and housing.

Individual Recognition Award: Cheryl Bettigole, MD, MA, MPH

Dr. Cheryl Bettigole's tenure as the Commissioner for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has been marked by significant contributions to public health and community well-being. As a seasoned family physician and former director of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Dr. Bettigole brought a comprehensive approach to her leadership role. During her three years at the helm, she navigated the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating exemplary crisis management and resilience. Under her direction, the department also crafted a five-year strategic plan focusing on equity and improved access to primary care, while also preparing for future public health challenges. Notably, Dr. Bettigole spearheaded efforts to respond to mass displacement events, aiding both local and migrant populations and ensuring their access to healthcare services. Her dedication to public health has not only seen the renewal of the department’s accreditation, but has also led to innovative care models for migrants, truly reflecting her commitment to serving Philadelphia’s diverse community.

Student Recognition Award: Kristen Sokoloski

Kristen Sokoloski is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in public health analytics at Thomas Jefferson University. She is enrolled in Jefferson's College of Population Health. Prior to her graduate studies, Kristen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to being an MPH student, Kristen works as a Development Associate at Jefferson Health. Her role is within Jefferson's Office of Institutional Advancement. She is eager to develop essential quantitative and analytical skills through her MPH coursework to prepare her for a future career as an epidemiologist. Kristen is passionate about using her education to identify and bring attention to health disparities at the population level.

Organization Recognition Award: Latino Health Health Collective at Drexel University

In March 2020, faculty from Drexel University and representatives from the Department of Public Health and Latino-serving organizations in Philadelphia began bi-weekly virtual meetings to address COVID-19 needs within the Latino community. This initiative has since expanded to over 60 organizations, which now also tackles broader social, economic, and health issues affecting local Latinos. They meet monthly to address public health concerns, monitor health disparities, and share resources to support the Latino population in the area. Their mission is to achieve health equity and reduce health disparities for Latinos in Philadelphia through collaboration and advocacy.

Individual Recognition Award: Rosemary Frasso, PhD, MPH, FCPP; Thomas Jefferson University

Organization Recognition Award: Code Red PA (coderedpa.org)

Student Recognition Award: Masha Morozov, University of Pennsylvania

No awards given due to COVID-19 pandemic pause in activities.

Individual Recognition Award: Thomas J. Nestel, III

Organization Recognition Award: PennEnvironment (environmentamerica.org)

Student Recognition Award: Tolulope Oyetunde, University of Pennsylvania

Individual Recognition Award: Jose Benitez, MSW, Executive Director, Prevention Point Philadelphia; President and Treasurer, Safehouse Philadelphia

Organization Recognition Award: Public Citizens for Children and Youth: https://www.pccy.org

Student Recognition Award: Fatima Jackson, La Salle University

Individual Recognition Award: James Plumb, MD, MPH, Jefferson College of Population Health

Organization Recognition Award: Philadelphia Department of Prisons

Student Recognition Award: Elaine Tran, University of Pennsylvania

Individual Recognition Award: Robert Simmons, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, CPH, Jefferson University

Organization Recognition Award: LaSalle Neighborhood Nursing Center

Student Recognition Award: Alia Salam, Jefferson University

Individual Recognition Award: Amy Jessop, PhD, MPH, Prevention Point Philadelphia

Organization Recognition Award: Healthy NewsWorks

Student Recognition Award: Karie Youngdahl, Jefferson University