Honoring Champions of Health Equity: San Diego's Health Leaders Recognition
Celebrating Health Leaders in San Diego
In a heartfelt ceremony held at The Prado in Balboa Park on November 12, 2026, the Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan hosted its fourth annual Leading the Way Awards, celebrating an impressive roster of 45 individuals and organizations. These honorees have made significant contributions to meet the diverse health needs of San Diego County residents through their outstanding work in enhancing health care access, promoting health equity, and delivering compassionate care.
Kristen Cerf, the president and CEO of Blue Shield Promise, took the stage to commend the recipients for their relentless dedication. "Every day, these remarkable leaders are breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and helping people access the care they need to thrive," she stated. This statement underscores the essence of the awards, emphasizing that the recognition is not just for the health plan but also for the individuals and organizations that tirelessly serve the community.
The awards spanned several categories, including Partnership Excellence, Distinguished Service, Workforce Impact, and several others aimed at highlighting the diverse efforts to improve health outcomes. Among the top honors, the Visionary Awards were bestowed upon Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) San Diego and Kevin Mattson, the CEO of San Ysidro Health, acknowledging their decades-long commitment to supporting the health and well-being of San Diego County's residents.
Kevin Mattson expressed his gratitude, stating, "Receiving this Visionary Award is a tremendous honor and reflects the dedication of our physicians, care teams, and staff who serve patients every day." He reflected on the organization’s origins, founded nearly 60 years ago by a group of seven mothers who strived for better health access for their children and community. This foundational mission continues to guide their work today.
Jessica Rathbun, senior program director of SAY San Diego, also shared her appreciation for the recognition. She emphasized the importance of understanding the challenges families face and partnering with Blue Shield Promise to remove barriers to care. Rathbun's remarks highlight a cooperative spirit that aims to bring preventive health services closer to the communities in need, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing health equity.
The awards serve as a reminder of the impact that dedicated individuals and organizations can have within their communities. The honorees exemplify the notion that meaningful change often unfolds quietly, one family at a time. Their collective efforts inspire us all to continue working towards better health outcomes.
As part of the event, the following organizations and individuals were recognized for their exemplary work:
Categories and Honorees
- - Partnership Excellence Award
- Coastal Roots Farm
- Feeding San Diego
- Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
- Mama's Kitchen
- Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
- Project New Village
- - Distinguished Service Award
- Fadra Whyte, D.M.D., M.P.H., from County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
- - Workforce Impact Award
- Family Health Centers of San Diego
- Nile Sisters Development Initiative
- San Diego Workforce Partnership
- Urban Corps of San Diego County
- - Youth Engagement & Resiliency Award
- Harmonium
- YMCA of San Diego
- - Advancing Mental Health Access Award
- Lifeline Community Services
- Interfaith Community Services
- McAlister Institute
- NAMI San Diego
- - Creating Healthy Futures Award
- Arij Faksh, M.D., Bridge Prenatal
- County of San Diego Black Infant Health Program
- Neighborhood House Association Black Infant Health Program
- American Red Cross
- - Outstanding Community Outreach by a Provider Award
- Margaret Deel, M.D.
- Herald Christian Health Center
- Imperial Beach Community Clinic Health Outreach Team
Conclusion
The Leading the Way Awards highlight not only the great strides made in health care within San Diego County but also the collaborative spirit that drives these efforts. Through partnerships and shared commitment, the community continues to make progress toward improving health equity and outcomes for all. Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan remains dedicated to these values as it serves over 500,000 Medi-Cal members across Los Angeles and San Diego counties. For more information on their initiatives, visit Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan.
Topics Health）
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