Nominations accepted year round.
The Immunization Champion Award was established in 2003 in memory of Natalie Joy Smith, M.D, M.P.H. (1962-2003). Dr. Smith was Deputy Director of the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; former Chief of the Immunization Branch, California Department of Health Services (1994-2002); and a founder of the California Coalition for Childhood Immunization, a precursor organization to the California Immunization Coalition.
This annual award, first presented in 2004, memorializes Dr. Smith’s exceptional leadership and her dedication to eliminating vaccine preventable diseases. The award is presented at the California Immunization Coalition Summit to an individual, group, or organization in California that has made an outstanding contribution in the immunization arena.
Criteria for Nomination
Nominees must have made a significant contribution to immunization at the state or local level. Their leadership or other activities may be in a variety of contexts, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Development of partnerships and coalitions
Policy and legislative advocacy - Innovative programs to reach disadvantaged populations
Philanthropic support of state or local activities - Leadership in public health
- Advances in service delivery in the context of preventive health and primary care
Nomination Review and Award Determination
The CIC Board of Directors will designate a committee in January of each year to review nominations and make recommendations to the Board, which will select the awardees(s) by majority vote.
- Nominations submitted before March 9th will be reviewed for the upcoming Summit
- Nominations submitted in previous years may also be considered
- Award determination will be made prior to the Summit.
