Public Health Impact Awards
Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities

About this award
Eligibility and nominations
Past honorees

This award was created in 2012 to honor the memory of Minnesota Department of Health employee Lou Fuller, the first director of the MDH Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. Ms. Fuller spoke passionately about the vast racial and ethnic health disparities that exist in Minnesota, noting it unacceptable that such vast disparities could exist in one of the healthiest states in the nation. She turned her passion into action by promoting research, strategies, and public policies to reduce the gaps in such areas as infant mortality, chronic disease, teen pregnancy, and women's health. Lou's collaborative efforts focused on improving health status for populations of color and American Indians, thereby strengthening the health of Minnesotans as a whole population.

The Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities Award is given to an individual or organization that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to eliminating health disparities in populations of color and American Indians.

Nomination form questions: 

Please describe below how the nominee demonstrates each of the following criteria. Specific examples are encouraged.

1. Evidence of commitment to eliminating health disparities 
2. Advocacy for involving populations of color and American Indians in solutions for change 
3. Played a significant role in championing and/or implementing a system, policy, or environmental change needed to eliminate health disparities, leading the change process 
4. Responsible for implementation of a project, program, or strategy to reduce a specific health disparity in a defined population or geographic area, which is supported by data. Populations may include but are not limited to populations of color, American Indians, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, rural and underserved communities, migrant and refugee populations, and low-income and economically disadvantaged populations.

Please provide detailed responses to the nomination questions, as nominations will be scored based on how well the nominee meets the award criteria.

Eligibility

Those eligible for this award include community organizations, elected officials, state, local and Tribal public health staff, volunteers.

• 2019 Pat Swanson, Health Start Clinics (retired)
• 2018 Jokho Farah, People's Center Clinic Minneapolis
• 2017 Anne Walaszek, American Indian Cancer Foundation
• 2016 Nate Sandman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• 2015 MaoHeu Thao, St. Paul-Ramsey Public Health
• 2014 Vacharee Peterson, Community Dental Care
• 2013 Laura Waterman Wittstock, First Person Radio, KFAI-FM
• 2012 Wilhelmina Holder, Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment