Award Descriptions/Eligibility Requirements
NACHC Community Health Care Awards of Excellence
Note: All references to “health center” include Community, Migrant, Homeless, and Public Housing Health Centers, and other community-based health care programs, which meet NACHC Organizational Membership requirements.
JOHN GILBERT AWARD
(awarded annually)
This award was established in recognition of John Gilbert’s outstanding contribution to NACHC and the community health care field prior to his death in 1974. The award is presented to an individual who, as a member of either the board or staff of a health center, has demonstrated a level of excellence in the community health care field.
Candidates for the John Gilbert Award must have demonstrated a high level of excellence in their work, which distinguishes their service and contributions.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a staff or board member of a health center in good standing; both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing.
ETHEL BOND MEMORIAL CONSUMER AWARD
(awarded annually)
Named in recognition and memory of Ethel Bond’s exemplary contributions as a health center board member, this award is presented to an outstanding individual who has both been actively involved in the development of a health center and has shown dedication to the Community Health Center Movement over a period of at least three years.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a staff or board member of a health center in good standing; both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing.
SAMUEL U. RODGERS, MD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
(awarded annually)
Established in 1977 in honor of the late Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers, a health care provider, community activist, and national leader in health and civil rights, this award is presented to a distinguished primary care clinician who exemplifies excellence in clinical practice and leadership at the local, state, or national level.
Examples of such leadership areas include advocacy, clinical management, recruitment and retention, and quality assurance.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a health center clinician (physician, dentist, registered nurse, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, social worker, etc.); both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing
LOUIS S. GARCIA COMMUNITY/MIGRANT HEALTH SERVICES AWARD
(awarded annually)
Established in 1990 in honor of Louis S. Garcia who served as President of NACHC in 1978-1979, this award is presented to individuals for exceptional primary health care management and service in the migrant/farm worker health field.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a health center administrator or a health center administrative staffer at a center serving migrant/farm worker populations. Both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing.
NORTON WILSON STATE/REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
(awarded annually)
Established in 2001 in recognition of Norton Wilson’s invaluable contributions to the community health center movement as director of CHCs of Arkansas, Inc., this award is presented to an outstanding staff member of a NACHC-chartered State or Regional Primary Care Association who exemplifies leadership excellence in the primary care association arena.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a staff member of a NACHC-chartered State or Regional Primary Care Association. The nominee must be an Individual Member of NACHC in good standing.
AARON L. BROWN MEMORIAL PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
(awarded in even-numbered years)
Established in 1985, this award recognizes Aaron L. Brown’s outstanding contributions to the Community Health Center Movement as a health center executive director, center board member, and member of NACHC. The award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the community health field either: (1) as an official in the legislative/administrative branches of a local, state, or federal government or other public or private agency or (2) as a health center leader highly effective in the public policy arena.
Eligibility: An individual who serves in the public policy arenas of local, state or federal government or other public or private agency (including legislative and administrative branches) or a NACHC individual member who is a staff or board member of a health center, and who has been outstanding in advocating on behalf of health centers.
NACHC Individual Membership is not required if the nominee is a public official; however, for a health center nominee, Individual Membership and Organizational Membership (both in good standing) are required.
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN PRIMARY CARE AWARD
(awarded in even-numbered years)
This award recognizes a health center clinician who has been active in primary care research or evaluation in such areas as community/responsive practice, prevention, public health, care coordination, or the clinical practice of medical, dental, mental health services, or social services.
Eligibility: All categories of health center clinicians (physicians, dentists, registered nurses, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, etc.)
Although NACHC Individual Membership is not required, the health center must be an organizational member of NACHC in good standing.
JEFFREY T. LATMAN LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE FINANCE AWARD
(awarded in odd-numbered years)
Dedicated in memory of Jeffrey T. Latman’s outstanding leadership and service to community health centers nationwide in the area of finance, this award is presented to an individual who serves in a senior level finance position and whose work best exemplifies excellence, leadership, and integrity in strengthening health center fiscal operations.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who serves in a senior level finance position at a health center; both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARD
(awarded in odd-numbered years)
This award recognizes individuals whose initiatives have developed and enhanced education and training programs for health professionals at community-based health centers.
Examples of such activities include mentoring young community members interested in health professional careers, the development of health center training programs for students and residents, and the development of collaborative training models with residency programs.
Eligibility: A NACHC Individual Member who is a health center staff member; both the nominee and the health center must be members of NACHC in good standing.