The Office of Minority Health Awards Program conferred six categories of awards which recognized and honored the dedicated efforts of individuals, organizations and communities that have resulted in awareness of the health status of racial/ethnic minority populations, empowered minority communities to promote health and advocate healthy behaviors, strengthened partnerships, and worked to eliminate disparities in health.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Senator Kennedy is a visionary leader who has dedicated his career towards the welfare and advancement of minority health and health disparities through inimitable contributions. Senator Kennedy’s extraordinary achievement in bringing people and institutions together has resulted in significant improvement in the health of racial and ethnic minorities at a national level.

Tonya Lewis Lee, Esq.
Author, Actor, and Producer
Manhattan, NY

This award is recognizes Mrs. Lewis Lee as a pioneer in taking action to further the goals of improving the health status of all racial and ethnic minority Americans. Her efforts to eliminate health disparities and develop new and innovative solutions for improving and well-being for racial and ethnic minority Americans has left a significant impact on closing the health gap.

Cheryl A. Boyce
Executive Director
Ohio Commission on Minority Health
and
Chairperson
National Association of State Offices of Minority Health
Columbus, OH

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Robbie M. Jackman, MSSW
Retired Director of the Tennessee Office of Minority Health
Tennessee Department of Health
Nashville, TN

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The recipients of this award are past or present officials within a federal, state, local, or tribal government whom have shown dedicated leadership in advancing improvements in minority health. Both Ms. Boyce and Ms. Jackman have inspired other government employees to work collaboratively and with singular purpose to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities.

Center for the Study of Asian American Health
NYU School of Medicine
New York, NY

The Center for the Study of Asian American Health received the 2009 Minority Health Leadership award for their demonstrated vision, innovation, creativity, and leadership in developing opportunities or investing in effective models for improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities.

Anne C. Beal, MD, MPH
Assistant Vice President for the Program on Health Care Disparities
Commonwealth Fund
Boston, MA

The recipient of the Minority Health Knowledge award, is an academician and researcher whose substantial research, writing, and publishing work has advanced knowledge about minority health and the elimination of health disparities. Dr. Beal’s efforts have contributed and inspired others to contribute to the body of knowledge needed to close the health gap.

Henry Acosta, MA, MSW, LSW
Executive Director
National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health
and
Deputy Director
New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc.
Mercerville, New Jersey

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Kauila Clark
President-Elect
The Board of the National Association of Community Health Centers
Waianae, Hawaii

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Ho Luong Tran, MD, MPH
President and CEO
Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
San Francisco, CA

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Patricia Whitefoot
"Palatisha Miyanashma" Indian Education Director with Topenish School District
Toppenish, WA

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Kynna Wright-Volel, PhD, RN, MSN, MPH, CPNP
Assistant Professor and Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholar
University of California
Los Angeles School of Nursing
Los Angeles, CA

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Five awards were given for the 2009 Minority Health Community Trailblazer Award. The recipient from each racial and ethnic community has demonstrated leadership in improving the health of their respective population. This award also recognizes those whose pioneering contributions have been outstanding and unique, and whose efforts have "blazed a trail" in the community.