Together We Thrive: Health Across the Lifespan

APHA's Public Health Awards Ceremony and Luncheon recognized individuals who received the association's most distinguished awards. APHA honors those who exemplify professionalism and dedication to the field of public health.

Meet the 2026 Award Winners 

Sedgwick Memorial Medal for Distinguished Service in Public Health
Honors an individual for their distinguished service to advance public health knowledge and practice in the field of research, administration, education, technical services or a specialty field of public health practice. The Sedgwick Memorial Award is the Association’s oldest and most prestigious honor.
Recipient: James Curran, MD, MPH, Dean Emeritus, Emory Rollins School of Public Health

APHA Presidential Citation
Recognizes a person or organization in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of public health or the public health profession.
Recipient: The National Pan-Hellenic Council

APHA Award for Excellence
Recognizes an individual for making a significant and well-recognized contributions to the improvement of community health by utilizing scientific knowledge or innovative organizational strategies.
Recipient: Jack Tsai, PhD, Professor and Regional Dean, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health
Honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to public health through science–based advocacy. The award is a tribute to David P. Rall, MD, PhD, whose scientific-based advocacy efforts advanced public health and prevention across many fields and in many forms.
Recipient: Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA, Executive Director, Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center

Helen Rodriguez-Trias Social Justice Award
Honors an individual who has worked toward social justice for underserved and disadvantaged populations. The award is named after the late Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias, past president of the American Public Health Association.
Recipient: Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, MBA, Professor and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Medicine, Medical Society Sciences and Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine

Milton and Ruth Roemer Prize for Creative Local Public Health Work
Honors a local health officer of a county, city or other unit of local government who has demonstrated creative and innovative public health work.
Recipient: Iulia Vann, MD, MPH, Public Health Officer, Allegheny County Health Department

Ayman El-Mohandes Young Professional Public Health Innovation Award
Recognizes a young public health professional who is making a significant, innovative contribution to the public health field. The award is endowed by Ayman El-Mohandes, MPH, MD, MSc, MBBCh, a former APHA Executive Board member.
Recipient: Alexandra López Vera, PhD, MPH, DrPH(c), CHES, Assistant Professor of Medical Education, California University of Science and Medicine

Lyndon Haviland Public Health Mentoring Award
Recognizes an individual for their essential role of mentoring in public health and leadership development.
Recipient: Gregory G. Homish, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Buffalo

Martha May Eliot Award
Honors a professional worker from the field of maternal and child health. The award is named after the late Dr. Martha May Eliot. past present of the American Public Health Association and a moving force in APHA’s Maternal and Child Health Section.
Recipient: Arden Handler, DrPH, MPH, Professor Emerita, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health

Sommer Klag Advocacy Achievement Award
A partnership of APHA and the Lerner Center, the award goes to a person who understands the importance of advocacy in academic public health training.
Recipient: Lilia Cervantes, MD, MSCS, Professor, Tenured, Director of Immigrant Research, Anschutz, Medical Campus, University of Colorado

Victor Sidel and Barry Levy Award for Peace
The Victor Sidel and Barry Levy Award for Peace is awarded to an APHA member who has made outstanding contributions to preventing war and promote international peace. The award draws attention to the profound health consequences of war and what public health workers can do to help prevent war and promote international peace.
Theodore Tulchinsky, MD, MPH, Professor Emeritus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

2026 APHA Chief Executive Officer's Citation
Honors an APHA member for their exceptional service to the Association
Recipient: Celeste A. Monforton, DrPh, MPH