Safe States Alliance Honors Injury & Violence Prevention Achievements
ATLANTA, July 15, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Each year, the Safe States Alliance recognizes and honors members and partners for their contributions to Safe States and their commitment to the field of injury and violence prevention (IVP). The 2024 award winners collectively demonstrate commitment to equity, innovation, excellence, and vision to advance the field of IVP.
From rising stars to seasoned veterans, the following public health professionals will be honored for their significant contributions during the Safe States 2024 Annual IVP Conference taking place Aug. 20-22 in Portland, OR.
Alex Kelter Vision Award: Tony Gomez, Public Health – Seattle King County (Seattle, WA), for his lifetime contributions, bringing vision and leadership to the field of IVP. Tony is honored for his dedication to improving the health and well-being of the community and his relentless pursuit of equity and excellence over the last 40 years.
Advancing Health Equity Award: Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreement Program (TIPCAP) Monitoring Contract Team, Colorado School of Public Health (Aurora, CO), for their unwavering commitment to support equitable IVP practices in tribal communities.
Ellen R. Schmidt Award: Peg Ogea-Ginsburg, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Lincoln, NE), for her significant contributions to the field of injury and violence prevention through outstanding service to the Safe States Alliance for more than 20 years.
Injury and Violence Prevention Achievement Award: Taffy Hunter, Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition (Spokane, WA), for her thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate approach to community-level primary prevention and implementation of a first-of-its-kind positive social norms campaign aimed at preventing domestic violence.
Injury and Violence Prevention Achievement Award: Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program at ECU Health Medical Center (North Carolina), for their vital role in the development, implementation, and interdisciplinary adoption of injury prevention practices across Eastern North Carolina.
Journey Award: Mary Ann Contreras, JPS Health (Fort Worth, TX), for her continual pursuit of greatness in the field of injury and violence prevention as an advocate and servant leader.
Partner of the Year Award: Tim Daly, The Joyce Foundation (Chicago, IL), for his ongoing support of, and partnership with, Safe States and unwavering commitment to gun violence prevention.
President’s Award: Sharon Gilmartin, Safe States Alliance (Greensboro, NC), for demonstrating excellence and a genuine passion for Safe States' mission.
Rising Star Award: The following individuals, new to the IVP field within the last five years, are awarded for their immense efforts to advance the practice of IVP by exhibiting professional growth and providing strong leadership.
Emily Nicholls, Oklahoma State Department of Health (Oklahoma City, OK)
Jessica Ritter, Safe Kids Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Formed in 1993, the Safe States Alliance is the only national non-profit organization and professional association comprised of public health IVP professionals representing all U.S. states and territories dedicated to strengthening the practice of IVP.
Source: Safe States Alliance
