2009 STD & HIV Conference Awards

The STD and HIV Awards were presented by Kimberly Snell

STD Award

Karen Gray - Kalamazoo County Health Care Services

Karen is willing to step up and do what needs to be done. She goes out of her way to do the best job she can for this program. Karen is knowledgeable and passionate about finding those who test positive to get them into treatment. Recently, she began field delivered therapy in Kalamazoo and "She must be the most popular woman here, now!"

HIV Prevention Award

Darryl Jones & Brenda White- Community Health Awareness Group

This "dynamic duo" work as lead staff for a new CHAG initiative, implementing the CDC's Social Networking Strategy for Recruitment for the counseling and testing program. Using this new strategy Brenda and Darryl made themselves available "nearly 24-hours a day to provide coaching, guidance and on-demand testing to clients who agreed to participate in SNS, many of who were homeless and transient." They connect with their clients in a compassionate, nonjudgmental manner and often go above and beyond the call by doing special things for their clients, like donating clothing. Through their hard work, CHAG increased its number of newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals connected to care services by 35% in less than eight months.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mark Miller

Mark Miller was part of the STD program for over 30 years. He served as an investigator, supervisor, and program manager, working in Detroit, Wayne County, Marquette, and Lansing. In his various roles, he was part of forming every aspect of Michigan’s STD program. Additionally, he worked closely with HIV and Health Disparities. STD Surveillance Manager Bruce Nowak highlighted some of his former STD program manager’s numerous accomplishments when he presented the award.

Mark Miller led the STD program through several major syphilis outbreaks. “This required a unique set of skills to navigate through local politics, CDC input, and the media to assure rapid investigation and case management,” said Nowak.

During his 3-year tenure on the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) Board, Mark helped develop the “National Plan to Eliminate Syphilis in the United States.” He also represented NCSD on development of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Accelerated Prevention Campaigns.

Mark Miller was responsible for several “firsts:” the first gonorrhea and chlamydia testing program; Michigan’s first “alternative site testing” for HIV, by partnering with the Henry Ford Health System, the American Red Cross, and the Detroit Health Department; and working closely with the previous division director, Mark helped establish the Health Disparities Reduction and Minority Health Section.

“For those of us who worked with Mark, we know that he lead by example and worked hard to assure that all of his staff knew they were appreciated and understood the value of the hard work they did every day. He is missed not only for his leadership, but, for the unique way he could tell a good “VD” story to anyone who would listen,” said Nowak.

“When Mark left the STD Program in December of 2008, we lost a leader as well as our historian. Thankfully, his legacy has allowed the program to move forward.


 

See last year's award recipients

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