Prevention Pioneer Award

The Canyon Ranch Institute Prevention Pioneer Award recognizes and honors individuals, organizations, and initiatives that are advancing health literacy, improving prevention, and eliminating health disparities.

Award Recipients:
2010 - Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez, M.S., M.P.H.

2009 - Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., FACPM

2008 - Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

2007 - Julia Dangond, Jeanette Kaplun, and Gillian Sandler, founders of Todobebé

Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez, M.A., M.P.H. - November 3, 2010

Paloma Hernandez with CRI President Richard H. Carmona and CRI Founders and Board Members Mel Zuckerman and Jerry Cohen.

Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez, M.S., M.P.H., president and chief executive officer of Urban Health Plan, is the 2010 Canyon Ranch Institute Prevention Pioneer. Canyon Ranch Institute recognized Paloma for her commitment to improving the health status of individuals in low-income communities. Under Paloma's leadership, Urban Health Plan – a network of federally qualified community health centers based in the South Bronx, NY – serves more than 30,000 low-income patients through primary and specialty health care visits.

Canyon Ranch Institute partnered with Urban Health Plan (UHP) in January 2007 to develop the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP). The CRI LEP at UHP focuses on improving participants' health literacy and increasing prevention by using an integrative approach to health and wellness that incorporates physical activity, nutrition, behavior change, and stress management.

Paloma said, "The partnership of Urban Health Plan and Canyon Ranch Institute is based on a shared commitment to supporting people in medically underserved communities. By using an integrative approach to health that incorporates the principles of prevention and health literacy, we are supporting our patients and their families in make lasting improvements to their health and well-being, which affects so many aspects of their lives."

Urban Health Plan's community health improvement initiatives also include an award-winning and nationally acclaimed asthma management program, programs in childhood obesity prevention, nutrition, HIV and AIDS care, as well as mental health services.

Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., FACPM - July 22, 2009

Canyon Ranch Institute President Richard H. Carmona presented Kenneth P. Moritsugu with the Canyon Ranch Institute Prevention Pioneer Award on July 22, 2009, at Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, Arizona.

The Canyon Ranch Institute 2009 Prevention Pioneer Award was presented to Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., FACPM, in recognition of his tireless commitment to improving health in the United States and globally.

As a leader in the Office of the Surgeon General and an admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Ken worked to improve wellness, increase prevention, eliminate health disparities, and improve the health literacy of all people through evidence-based science and programming. Through his professional and personal commitment, countless individuals and communities are enjoying healthier lives.

Before serving as acting surgeon general of the United States in 2006, Ken was the deputy surgeon general of the United States and the principal advisor to U.S. Surgeons General for nearly 10 years. Having completed residencies in internal medicine and in preventive medicine, Ken is board certified in preventive medicine and holds Fellowships in the American College of Preventive Medicine, the Royal Society of Health, and the Royal Society of Medicine. Ken has type 1 diabetes and appreciates the many challenges facing patients and diabetes professionals today.

After his retirement from federal service, Ken has continued to lead in the areas of disease prevention and health promotion. At the time he received this award, he served as Chairman of the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute, collaborating with colleagues and partners to transform diabetes care through training and education.

Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. - May 7, 2008

Canyon Ranch Institute Executive Director Jennifer Cabe and CRI President Richard H. Carmona presented Julio Frenk with the Canyon Ranch Institute Prevention Pioneer Award on May 7, 2008, at the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona.

Canyon Ranch Institute President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, and Canyon Ranch Institute Executive Director Jennifer Cabe, M.A., presented the Canyon Ranch Institute 2008 Prevention Pioneer Award to Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. for his leadership in global public health and health diplomacy. Julio was Mexico's Minister of Health from 2000 to 2006. At the time he received this award, Julio was a senior fellow in the global health program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and president of the Carso Health Institute in Mexico, a non-profit organization focused on health-systems innovations in Latin America. Julio was named Dean of the College of Public Health at Harvard University in July 2008.

Todobebé - February 16, 2007

President of Canyon Ranch Institute Richard H. Carmona, presents Todobebé founders Gillian Sandler (left), Julia Dangond and Jeannette Kaplun with the Institute's first Prevention Pioneer Award on February 16, 2007, at the Todobebé headquarters in Miami. Todobebé received the award for its commitment to educating Hispanic families who are planning, expecting, and raising children.

The first-ever Prevention Pioneer Award was presented in 2007 by Canyon Ranch Institute President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, to Todobebé, a multimedia company dedicated to families who are planning, expecting, and raising babies. Todobebé was selected to receive the Canyon Ranch Institute Prevention Pioneer Award because of the company's commitment to providing wellness and prevention information to Hispanic families through television, radio, publications, digital media, and grassroots events.