2022 Awards

Erin Shoe, Deputy Health Director received the Reynolds Achievement Award from the North Carolina Public Health Association. The Reynolds Achievement Award is awarded to an individual NCPHA member who has made the greatest contribution to public health in North Carolina during the past year.

Dr. Eleanor (Elly) Steel, CHA Dentist received the GlaxoSmithKline Child Health - Individual Recognition Award

The Individual Recognition Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to improving children’s health services through a single effort. Dr. Steel was nominated by fellow North Carolina dentist, Dr. Natasha Mofrad. CHA’s Dental Clinic provides preventative and restorative care to both children and adults, as well as emergency appointments daily. The clinic also operates a Community Dental Program which visits all schools within Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools at least one time per year, seeing patients with signed parent consent.

2020 Awards

Dr. Russell Suda, OB and Medical Director, received the 2020 Anne Laukaitis Award from the Cabarrus Partnership for Children

Dr. Suda was selected by the Cabarrus Partnership for Children board members after reviewing all the applicants. Click here to view video presentation of the award.

The Anne Laukaitis Champion for Children Award is in honor of Anne’s distinguished Smart Start leadership and her long career dedicated to the service of young children and families in Cabarrus County.  This award is given annually to an exceptional individual at the local level who is devoted to public service and whose leadership qualities have resulted in significant change for the betterment of young children, families, and communities.  

 Abraya Johnson named the 2020 School Nurse of the Year Award by the School Nurse Association of North Carolina

Abraya was recognized for her work to provide health education and healthy living initiatives for students and staff at Kannapolis City Schools - GW Carver Elementary School, as well as the greater Kannapolis Community. Abraya’s work makes it very clear that she has a sincere heart for service and a desire to improve the lives of those around her. We were told that this year was particularly competitive, so we wanted to be sure to recognize Abraya for her efforts!!

Cabarrus Health Alliance’s WIC Department received the GlaxoSmithKline – Local Health Department Recognition Award

The Local Health Department Recognition Award acknowledges local health departments that have developed an innovative program which has produced measurable, sustainable outcomes. The award recognizes the work done by Program Coordinator, Pady Doroodchi and the entire WIC team to implement an online appointment scheduling tool for WIC participants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m7zHT8qRxg&feature=youtu.be – minute 14

Since December 2019, more WIC participants are on time for their appointments because of the reminder text messages that are sent out the day before and 30 minutes before the appointment time. Also, many participants express satisfaction with their in-office wait time because of the display queue monitor in the lobby. Caseload numbers have also greatly increased in the months that the online appointment system has been in use.

Sonja Bohannon-Thacker awarded the North Carolina Public Health Association, Outstanding Contributions to Social Work in Public Health Award

The Outstanding Contributions for Social Work in Public Health Award seeks to acknowledge the person who has made significant efforts to advance the cause of Public Health Social Work.

 Sonja began her career at Cabarrus Health Alliance in 1998, and continues to serve clients in the organization’s Maternal High Risk Clinic, Strengthening Families Program, Substance Use Network Clinic, and the Connections Program. Suzanne Knight, CHA Clinical Director, submitted the nomination and shared the following “She (Sonja) exemplifies the true meaning of being a social worker. Sonja is a champion for the disenfranchised and underserved, and continues to guide the growth of CHA’s behavioral health services, increasing access to care for so many in our community.”

Cabarrus Health Alliance’s Minority Diabetes Prevention Program received the 2020 John Bowdish Community Award

The award recognizes a person or organization that has provided community support in one or more strategies outlined in the North Carolina’s Guide to Diabetes Prevention and Management.

 The CHA MDPP teams works with and serve community members in an 11 county region who have prediabetes or other risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. The Journey to a Healthier Me, uses Prevent T2, an evidence-based diabetes prevention program. This lifestyle change intervention can help you make lasting changes to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Prevent T2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).