Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Award
The Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Award was established in 1997 in honor of Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Physicians for a Healthy California’s (PHC) first President and CEO. The award honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the health of communities in a manner consistent with PHC’s mission to champion community health, health equity, and diversity of the physician workforce in partnership with leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community.
This award consists of a $1,000 honorarium, plaque, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Demonstrated efforts to improve individual and community health through a partnership of leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community.
- Embodies PHC’s mission
2024 Awardee: Jose Alberto Arevalo, M.D., FAAFP
2023 Awardee: Manisha Sharma, MD, FAAFP
Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award
The Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award was established by 2007 California Medical Association President Anmol S. Mahal, M.D., and his wife Surjit K. Mahal, M.D., in honor of Dr. Mahal’s father, Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., who spent his career working to improve access to mental health care in India. The purpose of the award is to honor an individual or organization that has shown extraordinary interest and demonstrated efforts leading to a significant contribution toward improving access to health care or reducing disparities in health care in California.
This award consists of a $1,000 honorarium, plaque, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Uniqueness of the nominee’s efforts to address health access and or health care disparities.
- Length of time the group or individual has been involved in this effort.
- Extent of the impact/success of their work.
2024 Awardee: Marco Angulo, M.D., MSS
2023 Awardee: Tonya Fancher, MD, MPH
Frank E. Staggers, Sr., M.D., Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award
The Frank E. Staggers Sr., M.D., Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award was established in honor of Frank Staggers Sr., M.D., co-founder of the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO). The award honors an ethnic physician organization that has taken significant action toward improving the health of their communities, consistent with the values of Dr. Staggers (an understanding that the health of an individual and the health of the community are always integrally linked and the principle that health care is a right, not a privilege).
This award consists of a plaque, be honored at the leadership awards ceremony during the Health Equity Leadership Summit and a profile of the organization will be featured in Physicians for a Healthy California publications.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Contributions to improving the health of their community
- Success at engaging physicians to be community advocates and work toward reducing health disparities
2024 Awardee: Seomaritan Initiative
2023 Awardee: Sikh Family Center
Diverse Physician Leadership Award
Each year, Physicians for a Healthy California’s (PHC) honors a diverse physician for outstanding leadership contributions to diverse communities. The purpose of the Diverse Physician Leadership Award is to honor the individual physician, inspire other physicians, and promote leadership, caring and compassion in medicine.
This award consists of a $1,000 honorarium, plaque, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Demonstrated outstanding leadership of diverse communities
- Contributed greatly to the public’s health
- Embodies PHC’s mission to improve community health, grow a diverse physician workforce, and promote health equity.
2024 Awardee: Angela Tambunting Echiverri, M.D., MPH
2023 Awardee: Monica U. Hahn, MD, MPH, MS, AAHIVS
California Medical Student Health Equity Leadership Award
The California Medical Student Health Equity Leadership Award was established in 2023 by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) to honor a student whose activities have demonstrated interest and efforts working toward becoming the next generation of leader in promoting health equity within the state of California. The purpose of this award is to give a student the opportunity to highlight their work, passions, and contributions towards being a leader in health equity consistent with the mission of PHC.
This award consists of a plaque, $250 honorarium, a $250 donation to the health-related charity of the recipient’s choice, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Medical Student at a California school (Those who have graduated within the last 12 months will still be considered for this award)
- Body of work demonstrates interest and efforts working toward becoming a leader in health equity.
- Embodies PHC mission to improve community health, grow a diverse physician workforce, and promote health equity.
2024 Awardee: Zainub Dhanani, M.S.
2023 Awardee: Jacqueline Xu
California Resident Health Equity Leadership Award
The California Resident Health Equity Leadership Award was established in 2023 by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) to honor a resident/fellow who is working diligently to be part of the next generation of physician leaders dedicated to improving health equity among those Californians facing the greatest barriers to care. The purpose of this award is to highlight the exemplary work in advancing health equity in their communities in alignment with the mission of PHC.
This award consists of a plaque, $500 honorarium, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Enrolled in a California ACGME-accredited postgraduate training program (Those who have completed a residency/fellowship within the last 12 months will still be considered for this award)
- Body of work completed by the resident/fellow toward the advancement of health equity outside of their program.
- Embodies PHC’s mission to improve community health, grow a diverse physician workforce, and promote health equity
2024 Awardee: Bria L. Pettway, M.D.
2023 Awardee: Alyssa Ashbaugh Ortega, MD
California Young Physician Health Equity Leadership Award
The California Young Physician Health Equity Leadership Award was established in 2023 by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) to honor a young physician whose work has made a significant contribution to improving access and/or reducing disparities in health care, improving cultural competency and patient advocacy in California aligned with the mission of PHC.
This award consists of a plaque, $750 honorarium, and travel and accommodation expenses for the honoree to attend the awards ceremony at the Health Equity Leadership Summit.
The following criteria will be used in review of all submitted nominations:
- Practicing physician within five years of completion of residency/fellowship.
- Body of work completed by the young physician toward the advancement of health equity outside of their practice.
- Embodies PHC’s mission to improve community health, grow a diverse physician workforce, and promote health equity
2024 Awardee: Lynnea Morm, D.O.
2023 Awardee: Melody Tran-Reina, MD