Started by the Delaware Academy of Medicine in 2010, the Executive Director’s Public Health Recognition Award is given to a Delaware nonprofit organization who has shown outstanding leadership and dedication to the improvement of our community.
The 2025 recipient of the Executive Director’s Public Health Recognition Award is
Delaware State University, Department of Public & Allied Health Services
Delaware State University’s Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences, housed under the Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, offers Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree programs. The new Master of Public Health (MPH) program, scheduled to launch in March of 2025, will offer concentrations in Global Health and Epidemiology. There has been substantial program growth in recent years, expanding student enrollment, academic offerings, and community outreach in the rapidly evolving field of population health.
DSU Public Health students and faculty actively engage in internships and health equity research training through the ACCEL-Clinical and Translational Research and RCMI grants, as well as the Health Equity Institute of Delaware (HEIDE). The primary objective of these initiatives is to conduct Delaware-specific health equity research, thereby enhancing state policymaking and evaluating the long-term impact of public health interventions. The Public Health faculty and students have also made significant contributions to addressing food insecurity. The DSU Food Pantry, established in 2016, operates as a self-supporting entity that provides food and toiletries to community members in need. In recognition of its impactful work on food insecurity within the academic setting, the DSU Food Pantry was awarded the Delaware Wellness Hero distinction by the Lieutenant Governor in 2022.
Through innovative academic offerings, strategic partnerships, and impactful initiatives, Public Health degree programs at Delaware’s only HBCU (Historically Black College or University) continue to advance with the mission of improving health outcomes for individuals and communities at the local, national, and global levels.
Previous recipients of the Public Health Recognition Award
2010: The Heart Truth Delaware
2011: Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
2012: Immunization Coalition of Delaware
2013: St. Michael’s School and Nursery
2014: Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 83, Gold Star Program
2015: Gift of Life Donor Program
2016: The Honorable Jack Markell, Governor of Delaware 2009-2017
2017: The American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic
2018: Jewish Family Services of Delaware
2019: William J. Holloway Community Program
2020-2021: Delaware Rural Health Initiative
2022: A-Team Delaware
2023: Westside Family Healthcare
2024: Sussex County Health Coalition