ASTHO’s Efforts Supporting State and Territorial Health Leaders Recognized With Four National Awards

August 31, 2021

ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has been recognized for its efforts advocating for and supporting state and territorial public health leaders via four separate awards by the Alliance for Health Policy, the Center for Association Leadership (ASAE), the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE), and the American Advertising Federation. The awards honor the work of our nation’s public health leaders, ASTHO staff, and board of directors in supporting them through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alliance for Health Policy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to better understand the nation’s healthcare issues and health policy. They recognized ASTHO’s CEO, Michael Fraser, PhD, on behalf of all our nation’s state and territorial public health officials with the Frontline Public Health Award. This award recognizes the contributions of those who are on the frontlines of the pandemic and acknowledges the tireless efforts of state and territorial health officials’ to prevent COVID-19.

Each year, the ASAE bestows the Power of A Award to member organizations in recognition of the valuable contributions of associations locally, nationally, and globally. The Power of A Awards recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of associations and industry professionals who work to solve problems, and strengthen lives, the workforce, the economy, and the world. ASTHO was named a 2021 Power of A Silver Award winner for their Advocacy Campaign to Secure COVID-19 Emergency Supplemental Funding for Governmental Public Health Jurisdictions which results in needed resources being appropriated by Congress to federal, state, territorial, local, and tribal public health agencies in response to COVID-19.

AAMSE recognizes state and national medical societies for their contributions in support of the medical community and excellence in medical society management and awarded ASTHO with a 2021 Profiles of Excellence award, in the communications category for Insight and Inspiration: Monthly Conversations for Public Health Leaders in the Era of COVID-19 series. The series was a monthly webinar open to all interested public health professionals and featured luminary speakers and national thought-leaders. It was created to help motivate, restore, and challenge participants to new ways of thinking about leadership in difficult times. Since receiving the award, the series has been re-started for Fall 2021.

Finally, ASTHO and the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) were recognized by the American Advertising Federation with a Gold and Silver Addy Award. ASTHO and BCHC partnered with Riester Public Affairs to create a Mask PSA called, “Personalities.” The 30-second message, showing masks reflecting opposing personalities, debuted last summer as Americans debated whether to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“ASTHO and its members have worked tirelessly to protect the public’s health throughout this global pandemic, and continue to do so undeterred by threats, harassment, and vaccine misinformation,” says Fraser. “I am pleased to accept these awards on behalf of our nation’s public health leaders and our ASTHO team that supports them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our efforts truly demonstrate the power of associations in connecting members, sharing best practices and lessons learned, and providing the advocacy needed to create change in states and nationally. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, but our members and our association is prepared to build on past successes and continue advancing the public’s health and well-being well into the future.”

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.