KPHA 2026 AWARD NOMINATIONS
Each year since 1946, members of the Kansas Public Health Association nominate outstanding individuals to be recognized for their service to public health in Kansas. Recognize a deserving individual and/or organization today by clicking on each link below the award description for the following categories below.
Award recipients will be announced during KPHA’s 2026 Public Health Conference of Kansas.
PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE OF KANSAS
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS
SAMUEL J. CRUMBINE MEDAL
The most prestigious award given by KPHA is awarded for meritorious service and state, regional, or national recognition related to the improvement of the health of Kansans and/or the environment of the state.
2024: Brandon Skidmore
2020: Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH
NOMINATE A DESERVING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE SAMUEL J. CRUMBINE MEDAL
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD
This is for an individual who has rendered outstanding service to Kansas in the interest of public health and/or environmental improvement. The nominee may be a non-member of KPHA.
2020: Phil Griffin, BBA
NOMINATE A DESERVING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD
CORPORATE PUBLIC HEALTH AWARD
This is for a company or organization which through policy and activities makes a significant contribution to the mission of public health and/or environmental improvement in Kansas.
2023: Kansas Health Institute
2018: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas “Blue Health Initiatives”
NOMINATE A DESERVING ORGANIZATION FOR THE CORPORATE PUBLIC HEALTH AWARD
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY MAKER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This is for a local, state, or federal lawmakers who are public health champions. Considerations should include legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by the lawmaker, any leadership provided in protecting public health programs and funding, policy initiatives designed to protect the public’s health and any other examples of leadership that cannot necessarily be captured in a legislator’s voting record.
2024: City of Olathe, Kansas
EMERGING LEADER AWARD
This is awarded to an individual who has exhibited public health leadership in Kansas through advocacy, community involvement and/or program innovation as a student or early career professional. For the purpose of this award, an early career professional is an individual who has been in the workforce five years or less.
2024: Devin Quinn & Taylor Carter, MPH
NOMINATE A DESERVING EMERGING LEADER
THE DOROTHY WOODIN AWARD
The Dorothy Woodin Award is awarded to a public health nurse for outstanding service in public health nursing services.
THE VIRGINIA LOCKHART AWARD
The Virginia Lockhart Health Education Award is awarded to an individual for outstanding service in public promotion of health and/or environmental issues. To learn more about Virginia Pence Lockhart and her contributions to public health in Kansas, visit: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/2ab9b27d-dd77-44f5-8f2d-288000e2ad10/content
Previous award recipients:
2025: Dr. Danielle Jones & Jasmin Moore
NOMINATE A DESERVING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE VIRGINIA LOCKHART AWARD
THE JANE ADDAMS AWARD
The Jane Addams Award will be awarded to a social worker who exemplifies the qualities of Jane Addams (1860-1935). Addams was an American social worker during the Industrial Revolution who co-founded the Hull House and was the winner of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize. She was one of the first American social reformers who sought to improve the lives of the poor. The qualities of this award recipient include a pioneering spirit, a trailblazer, and one striving to improve the health of the poor and sanitary conditions of communities as did Jane Addams.