ABOUT
Awards
IPHCA recognizes colleagues who have dedicated their careers to improving health care access for the underserved.
IPHCA recognizes colleagues who have dedicated their careers to improving health care access for the underserved.
DANNY K. DAVIS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis is truly the champion of the community health center movement. This is IPHCA’s most prestigious award, and candidates must have rendered outstanding service to the community health center movement for at least 10 years. The recipient of the Danny K. Davis Award is dedicated, selfless and inspiring as a leader in his or her community.
Art Jones, M.D., Lawndale Christian Health Center (2000)
Carmen Velasquez, Alivio Medical Center (2001)
Vera Smith, Will County Community Health Center (2002)
Berneice Mills-Thomas, Near North Health Service Corporation (2003)
Michael Savage, Access Community Health Network (2004) Awarded Posthumously
Len Sharber, Circle Family Care (2005) Awarded Posthumously
No award recipient in 2006
Barbara Dunn, Community Health Improvement Center (2007)
Fred Bernstein, Community Health & Emergency Services, Inc. (2008)
Robert Klutts, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2009)
Heidi Nelson, Heartland Health Outreach (2010)
Lee Francis, M.D., Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2011)
No award recipient in 2012
Linnea Windel, RN, VNA Health Care (2013)
Evelyn Reid, APN, Near North Health Service Corporation (2014)
Michele Shubitowski, RN, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2015)
Amy Valukas, MPH, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2016)
Linda Niemiec, Crusader Community Health (2017)
Caroline Hoke, M.D., Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2018)
Dale Fiedler, SIHF Healthcare (2019)
Marisol Jimenez, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2020)
Maya Green, M.D., Howard Brown Health (2021)
Donna Thompson, MSN, MS, RN, Access Community Health Network (2022)
Brad Buzzard, CPA, Central Counties Health Centers (2023)
GEORGE M. O'NEILL LEADERSHIP AWARD
As one of the founders of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, George O’Neill’s leadership and vision have paved the way for the Association as a strong advocating body that links health centers across the state. His active involvement on the county, state and national levels set the standard for future leaders. The recipients of the George M. O’Neill Leadership Award are visionaries who empower and inspire their employees every day.
Len Sharber, Circle Family Care (2000)
Robert Klutts, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2001)
Virgil Tolbert, Christian Community Health Center (2002)
Alice Sartore, Ph.D, Will County Community Health Center (2003)
Wendy Cox, Chicago Family Health Center (2004)
Kim Mitroka, Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation (2005)
Bruce Miller, Lawndale Christian Health Center (2006)
Dwayne Mitchell, Chicago Family Health Center (2007)
Irene Pierce, RN, Lake County Health Department/CHC (2008)
Dora Garcia, Alivio Medical Center (2009)
Forrest Olson, Central Counties Health Centers, Inc. (2010)
Paul Luning, M.D., PCC Community Wellness Center (2011)
Robert Urso, PCC Community Wellness Center (2012)
Gordon Eggers, PA-C, Crusader Community Health (2013)
Fred Rachman, M.D., Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2014)
Angela Curran, JD, LLM, Community Nurse Health Center (2015)
Berneice Mills-Thomas, Near North Health Service Corporation (2016)
Sally Cesar, Christopher Greater Rural Health Planning Corporation (2017)
Cynthia Flamm, MSW, LCSW, Rural Health, Inc. (2018)
Dietra Kulicke, Chestnut Family Health Center (2019)
Patsy Jensen, Shawnee Health Services (2020)
Daniel Fulwiler, MPH, Esperanza Health Centers (2021)
Margie Johnson, MS, Beloved Community Family Wellness Center (2022)
Robert Tanner, MBA, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, Greater Family Health (2023)
RAMONA LOPEZ COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER EMPLOYEE AWARD
It is highly unusual to find a person who has committed their entire career to one organization and its mission. For this reason, IPHCA proudly recognizes Ramona Lopez who dedicated her 22-year career to furthering the mission of Chicago Family Health Center before retiring in 2000. Beginning as a family nurse practitioner and working her way up to executive director, Ramona fought to assure that quality health care be a right, not a privilege, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Nancy Muzzarelli, Shawnee Health Service (2000)
Sheryl Young, Henderson County Rural Health Center, Inc. (2001)
Maria Valderrama, Near North Health Service Corporation (2002)
Cecilia Morales, Chicago Health Outreach (2003)
Amy Rodriguez, Chicago Family Health Center (2004)
Sister June Anselme, RSM, Mercy Family Health Center (2005)
Catherine Anderson, Henderson County Rural Health Center, Inc. (2006)
Dale Fiedler, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2007)
Wahabi Tijani, Near North Health Service Corporation (2008)
Steven Beatty, M.D., Rural Health, Inc. (2009)
Sandra Latham, RN, Community Health Partnership of Illinois (2010)
Deborah Killingsworth, M.D., Christian Community Health Center (2011)
Nancy Serrata, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2012)
Gloria Rivera, LPN, Community Health Partnership of Illinois (2013)
Karole Lakota-Treese, M.D., PCC Community Wellness Center (2013)
Gabriela Norena, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2014)
Carol Andrews, Near North Health Service Corporation (2014)
Adelaeda Pagan, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2015)
Shelton Kay, Crusader Community Health (2015)
Toni Bush, PCC Community Wellness Center (2016)
Charlene Bivens, Near North Health Service Corporation (2017)
Kelly Ducheny, PSY.D. , Howard Brown Health (2018)
Laurie O’Dell, Heartland Health Centers (2019)
Maya Green, MD, MPH, Howard Brown Health (2020)
Carmen Vergara, MPH, BSN, RN, Esperanza Health Centers (2021)
Aimee Gonzalez, Heartland Health Centers (2022)
Denise Gonzalez, IWS Family Health (2023)
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CLINICIAN DEVOTION AWARD
Quality providers are the backbone of any community health center. Every day they must continually balance the pressures of caring for the many in need, while assuring that each individual is treated with respect and provided excellent care. This award recognizes a special individual who faces this challenge every day in an effort to reduce the barriers that exist to health care in his or her community.
Wilfredo Vega, M.D., Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation (2000)
Mark Loafman, M.D,. PCC Community Wellness Center (2001)
Cindy Lohrentz, Beloit Area Community Health Center (2002)
Ghassan Souri, D.D.S., Infant Welfare Society of Chicago (2003)
Lee Francis, M.D., Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2004)
Theodore Ross, M.D., Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2005)
Leela Jain, M.D., Near North Health Service Corporation (2006)
Carl Toren, M.D., Chicago Family Health Center (2007)
Timothy Long, M.D., Near North Health Service Corporation (2008)
Earl Fredrick, Jr., M.D., Christian Community Health Center (2009)
Gregg Stoner, M.D., Heartland Community Health Clinic (2010)
Janet Robinson, M.D., Shawnee Health Service (2011)
Bonnie Summers, CPNP, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2012)
Thomas Huggett, M.D., Circle Family HealthCare (2013)
Sara Naureckas, M.D., Erie Family Health Center, Inc. (2014)
Laurie Carrier, M.D., Heartland Health Centers (2014)
Mark Rastetter, M.D., PCC Community Wellness Center (2015)
Martha Glynn, M.D., Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2016)
Kathleen McDonough, M.D., PCC Community Wellness Center (2017)
James Lang, M.D., PrimeCare Community Health, Inc. (2018)
Michael Murphy, M.D., Central Counties Health Centers (2019)
Ann McCormick, MSN, FNP, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2020)
Anne Conquest Soule, MSN, CNM, RN, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2021)
Jennifer Fritz, PA-C, M.Ed., PrimeCare Community Health, Inc. (2022)
William Ribbing, MD, Rural Health, Inc. (2023)
IPHCA CLINICAL QUALITY CHAMPION AWARD
Under the guidance of IPHCA senior leadership and Board, the IPHCA Clinical Services Team has been instrumental in fostering clinical quality and workforce development infrastructure at IPHCA. Their services have been recognized by the joint commission, UIC School of Public Health and Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. This award recognizes a special individual who has served in a role dedicated to quality improvement for at least three years.
Andres Mafla, M.D., Access Community Health Network (2019)
Ryan Lee, MPH, Erie Family Health Centers (2020)
Elizabeth Bennetts, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2021)
Tracy Irwin, MD, MPH, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2022)
Natalie Raghu, DNP, FNP‑C, BC‑ADM, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2023)
CONSUMER BOARD DEDICATION AWARD
The Consumer Board Dedication Award is presented to a Community Health Center consumer board representative who exemplifies a high level of interest in, and dedication to, the delivery of primary health care services and the communities in which these services are provided.
Bill Moorehead, Near North Health Service Corporation (2000)
Lupe Valadez, Chicago Family Health Center (2001)
Eula Crawford, Lake County Health Department/CHC (2001)
William Wesender, Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center, Inc. (2002)
Frank DeBose, PCC Community Wellness Center (2003)
Elmer Brandhorst, Shawnee Health Service (2004)
Martin Paulson, Lake County Health Department/CHC (2005)
Bobby Hall, Central Counties Health Centers, Inc. (2006)
Robert Kamphuis, Family Christian Health Center (2007)
Clarence Burch, Near North Health Service Corporation (2008)
Ethel Manager, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2009)
Fred Bierer, R.Ph., Shawnee Health Service (2010)
Walter Hunter, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (2011)
Julie Janssen, Central Counties Health Centers, Inc. (2012)
Barbara Diggins, PCC Community Wellness Center (2012)
Reverend Sarden, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2012)
Celeste Castillo, Erie Family Health Center, Inc. (2013)
Gladys McKinney, Near North Health Service Corporation (2014)
Dorothy Volkert, Lake County Health Department/CHC (2015)
Leon Hansen, Crusader Community Health (2015)
Father Mark Brummel, Chicago Family Health Center (2016)
David Ruffin, Crusader Community Health (2016)
Guadalupe DeJesus, PrimeCare Community Health, Inc. (2017)
Doris Gray, Heartland Health Centers (2018)
Sam Gaines, M.D., Central Counties Health Centers (2019)
Donna Simmons, Access Community Health Network (2020)
Richard Romanowski, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2020)
Betzy Berganza, Erie Family Health Centers, Inc. (2021)
Kelley Hessian, Shawnee Health Service (2022)
Susana Castro, RN, MS, Community Health Partnership of Illinois (2023)