Annual Awards

2024 Awardees 

TPHA recognizes outstanding efforts and leadership in its members and partners each year through the awards listed below.  Awardees (pictured below) were recognized at a luncheon on Thursday October 10 during the 2024 Annual Conference.  

 R. H. Hutcheson, Sr. MD Award

This award is named in honor of Dr. R. H. Hutcheson, Sr., Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Public Health for many years. The award is to be presented to that person in the field of public health who has made outstanding contributions to public health over a period of several years.  The nominee must have been a member of TPHA for a minimum of five (5) years and an Active or Life Member of the Association in the year the award is given. 

This year's winner is Marianne Sharp, ACaa, Accounting Manager for the East Region, Tennessee Department of Health.  

Alex B. Shipley, MD, Award

This award is named in honor of Dr. Alex B. Shipley, Health Director of the East Tennessee Grand Division for a number of years. An outspoken advocate of public health, Dr. Shipley’s work contributed greatly to building local health department infrastructure in Tennessee. This award is to be presented to an employee of a regional or local health department who has made outstanding contributions in the field of public health over a period of several years. The nominee must be a member of TPHA for five (5) years, including the year upon which the award is based. 

This year's winner is Gail Harmon, Assistant Regional Director for the East Region, Tennessee Department of Health.

Public Health Worker Award

This award is presented to that person in the field of public health who, during the past three years, has provided outstanding service to the field. The person must be in full-time employment in the field and must hold active or life membership in the Association.  

This year's winner is Sarah Boop, Epidemiologist for the Northeast Region, Tennessee Department of Health.

Public Health Work Group Award

This award is presented to a local, regional, or state public health group, unit, or department that has made an outstanding contribution to public health. At least a portion of the team must be a current member of TPHA during the year in which the award is given.

This year's winner is the Northeast Region Syphilis Work Group for the Tennessee Department of Health.

Partner and Leadership Award (Individual and Group)

This award is presented to a non-public health professional, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution on behalf of public health, which is extraordinary and would set an example for others. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, two separate categories of PAL Awards (group/organization and individual) may be presented in a given year.  

This year's Individual PAL Award recipient is Crystal Lemus, second year medical student at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University.  

This year's PAL Group Award recipient is Early Success Coalition at Porter Leath. For more information about the Early Success Coalition, Click Here.

The Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service

The Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service award recipient is recommended based on their significant contributions made to the Association and approved by the TPHA Board of Directors.  

Dawn Ford, PhD, MPH, CPH, is this year's recipient of the Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service in recognition for her major contributions to the mission of the Tennessee Public Health Association. Dr. Ford is the Manager of the Epidemiology Department at the Hamilton County Health Department and is the immediate past-president of Tennessee Public Health Association.  

Member of the Year

This award recognizes the TPHA member who demonstrates commitment to the Association in 3 areas – volunteerism, leadership and representation of the organization.  

2024 Member of the Year are members of the Continuing Education Committee, which includes chair, Ernestine Small, EdD, MSN, Marian Levy, DrPH, RD, FAND, Julie Grubaugh, MPH, MCHES, Melissa Wolford, EHS, and Susan Melton, RDH.  

William Schaffner, MD, Public Health Hero Award

The William Schaffner, MD, Public Health Hero Award is a joint award from the Tennessee Medical Association and the Tennessee Public Health Association that is presented on a biennial basis to a person who has made significant contributions to advancing public health in Tennessee.  This could be someone who has made a career of public health with work that spans a number of years or someone who was instrumental in working on a critical public health issue of a shorter nature.  Dr. Schaffner, a true public health hero, exemplifies the characteristics of the individual to whom the award will be presented. For more information about Dr. Schaffner, Click Here

This award is offered every two years in partnership with the Tennessee Medical Association and will be awarded next in 2025.  

Award Criteria

Award Nomination Form

Previous Award Winners