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1991.12.02 :  Recognition Awards for AIDS Work

Contact:  Rayford Kytle  (202) 245-6867
December 2, 1991

       Agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services
today presented awards to 75 individuals and organizations from
24 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for their
outstanding contributions in the fight against AIDS.
       "We need to recognize the good and generous work that is
being done by so many Americans on behalf of those who have AIDS,
and by those who are working to stop the AIDS epidemic," said HHS
Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.  "This epidemic is indeed a
challenge that we must share, and today's award winners are
leaders in a national crusade against this disease."
       Awards were presented by the U.S. Public Health Service as
well as the Social Security Administration and the Health Care
Financing Administration.  They are part of the government-wide
observance of National AIDS Awareness Day, involving 14 federal
agencies in addition to HHS.  Fifteen states also undertook AIDS
Awareness Day activities.  The activities were coordinated with
the World Health Organization, which designated Dec. 1 as World
AIDS Day.
       The global theme of this year's World AIDS Day and
National AIDS Awareness Day is "Sharing the Challenge,"
recognizing the importance of a partnership approach to fighting
AIDS.  
       "While expressing gratitude and admiration for those who
have already made vital contributions, this year's theme is also
a call to action on the part of individuals and groups who do not
yet feel involved in this battle,"  Secretary Sullivan said in a
memorandum to all HHS employees.

                    U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

       James O. Mason, M.D., HHS assistant secretary for health
and head of the Public Health Service, presented 21 Assistant
Secretary for Health Awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.,
marking the fifth year of the awards.  Honorees were selected by
a committee of PHS officials from over 100 nominated from across
the country.  This year's recipients and the award categories are
as follows: 

1.   Health care professionals who have donated their services or 
         personal time to care for people with AIDS.    

.    Joel D. Weisman, D.O., Los Angeles, founding board member
     and now chairman of the board of directors of the American
     Foundation for AIDS Research.

.    Frederick Ifft, M.D., founder of the AIDS Task Force of
     Philadelphia.

.    John L. Turner, M.D., Philadelphia, honored for his work
     with AIDS patients, volunteer groups and research in the
     Delaware Valley.

.    Roberta J. Wong, Pharm. D., Los Angeles, whose work with the
     Foundation of Pharmacists and Corporate America for AIDS
     Education trains pharmacists to be AIDS educators.

.    David Rosenstein, D.D.S., for his efforts to meet the dental
     needs of AIDS patients in Oregon.

.    Howard L. Minkoff, M.D., professor of OB/GYN at the State
     University of New York Downstate Medical Center, for his
     scientific contributions. 

2.   Lay individuals who have volunteered their efforts to care 
     for and assist persons with AIDS.

.    Juan Jose Garcia Rios, for his work in AIDS education to    
     people in drug abuse rehabilitation programs in Puerto Rico.

.    Marisa Blay, for her work with children with AIDS in
     Puerto Rico.

.    Ray Hayes, for his work with the William J. Craig Foundation
     in Philadelphia, Pa., helping families dealing with AIDS.

.    Most Reverend Edmond L. Browning, New York City, presiding
     bishop of the Episcopal Church, for his leadership in the
     religious community in the AIDS fight.

.    Mike Lauber, president of Tusco Manufacturing in
     Gnadenhutten, Ohio, for his leadership in AIDS education in
     the workplace.

3.   Businesses which have demonstrated effective leadership in
     challenging AIDS.   

.    National Funeral Directors Association, Milwaukee, Wis.,
     whose AIDS education in the workplace program has been
     adopted as a model for other trade associations.

.    Metropolitan Home, the national home design magazine, for
     its creative AIDS education and fundraising efforts,
     including the designer showhouse in New York City. 

.    New England Corporate Consortium for AIDS Education, Boston,
     representing nearly two million workers worldwide, whose    
     leadership has launched hundreds of businesses' AIDS
     education programs.

.    American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
     Employees, Washington, D.C., for its commitment to providing
     extensive AIDS training and technical assistance to labor
     educators, stewards and employees. 

.    Ortho Biotech, Raritan, N.J., a pharmaceutical company which
     provided its drug Procit free to thousands of HIV-infected
     persons, while awaiting full marketing approval by the FDA. 
     Procit helps patients taking AZT avoid costly, uncomfortable
     and risky blood transfusions.

4.   AIDS service organizations or voluntary organizations
     providing services or help to people with AIDS.

.    Women and AIDS Resources Network, which has been on the
     forefront in formulating social and health policies in
     response to the unique needs of women in New York City, and
     in filling the gap in HIV services for women.

.    Columbus AIDS Task Force, which serves as the primary
     provider of direct services to people with HIV illness in
     the Columbus, Ohio, community and contributes significantly
     to the AIDS education and prevention efforts.

.    Whitman Walker Clinic, in Washington, D.C., which is a
     private non-profit community-based organization meeting the
     full spectrum of medical and psychosocial needs of people
     living with HIV.

.    Community Consortium, in San Francisco, which promotes
     communication and cooperation between hospital-based
     physicians and community-based physicians.  The consortium's
     integration of clinical research into primary medical care
     has greatly expanded access by HIV patients to experimental
     treatments.

.    AIDS Legal Referral Panel of San Francisco Bay Area, which
     works to ensure that all people with symptomatic HIV have
     access to legal services nationwide.

       Dr. Mason called the recipients "shining examples of
volunteerism in America.  Through them, the entire nation has
learned a valuable lesson about selflessness and concern for
others."  


                  SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

       Social Security Commissioner Gwendolyn S. King hosted an
AIDS awards ceremony at SSA's Baltimore headquarters, with 37
awards for outstanding service given to individuals in each of
HHS' 10 regional areas:

.    ATLANTA REGION

     Connie Buck, claims representative, Melbourne, Fla.

     Maria Duque, professional relations officer, Florida DDS.

     Larry Gaissert, claims representative, Wilson, N.C.

     Bruce Garner, field services specialist, Atlanta, Ga.

     Sandra Rothman, district manager, Miami, Fla.

     Joe Staiano, disability program administrator, Atlanta, Ga.

.    GROUP AWARD:  Atlanta AIDS Task Force, Atlanta Regional
     Office Members:
     Gwendolyn Campbell, supervisor, social insurance specialist
     E. Bruce Garner, field services specialist
     Cindy Husson, social insurance program specialist
     Darryl Mull, regional public affairs officer
     Heriberto Sanabria, equal opportunity specialist
     Coy Short, deputy regional commissioner for communications
     (will   accept the award in behalf of the group)
     Joseph Staiano, disability program administrator

.    BOSTON REGION

     Bernard Pont, field representative, Boston, Mass.
     Dennis Sousa, claims representative, Providence, R.I.

.    CHICAGO REGION

     Anton Kovacs, social insurance program specialist, Chicago,
     Ill.
     Kathleen Lane, professional relations officer, Wisconsin DDS
     Sue White, technical assistant, Cincinnati, Ohio

.    DALLAS REGION

     Jeanne Archuleta, operations supervisor, Albuquerque, N.M.
     Glenn Beasley, operations supervisor, Little Rock, Ark.
     Robert Garza, disability examiner, Texas DDS

.    DENVER REGION

     O'Dell Pickett, chief hearing officer, Colorado DDS

.    KANSAS CITY REGION

     Thomas Swain, supervisory disability specialist, Kansas
     City, Mo.

.    NEW YORK REGION

     Jane Zanca, deputy director of public affairs, New York,
     N.Y.
     GROUP AWARD, field representative unit, New York, N.Y.
     Members:
     Joseph Abounader, field representative (will accept the
     award in   behalf of the group)
     Arthur Feldman, field representative
     Gary Schultz, field representative

.    PHILADELPHIA REGION

     Heath Kelly, teleservice representative, Baltimore, Md.
     Patricia Rusche, social insurance claims specialist,
     Washington,   D.C. DDS
     Christopher Williams, metropolitan public affairs
     specialist, Washington, D.C.
     Mary Wilson, field representative, Wheaton, Md.

.    SAN FRANCISCO REGION

     Dr. James Krajeski, regional medical advisor, San Francisco,
     Calif.

.    SEATTLE REGION

     Sue Brown, claims representative, Everett, Wash.

.    CENTRAL OFFICE

     William Johnson-Bey, employee development specialist, DCO
     Lou Dean Moore, social insurance specialist, OD
     Edward Viereckt, social insurance specialist, DCPEA
     John Wilbur, planning analyst, OS

               HEALTH CARE FINANCING ADMINISTRATION


       Awards to 15 individuals and groups were presented by HCFA
Administrator Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D., and HCFA regional
administrators:

.    BOSTON REGION

     Reverend Thaddeus Bennett, executive director, AIDS
     Ministries Program of Connecticut, Hartford, Conn.
     Susan M. Adam, R.N., clinical coordinator of AIDS programs,  
     Lowell Community Health Center, Lowell, Mass.

.    NEW YORK REGION

     AIDS Resource Foundation for Children, Newark, N.J.
     Village Nursing Home AIDS Day Treatment Program, New York,
     N.Y.
     Children's Hospital AIDS Program of New Jersey, Newark, N.J.

.    PHILADELPHIA REGION

     Dr. Michael Glick, Temple University School of Dentistry,  
     Philadelphia, Pa.
     Whitman Walker Clinic, Washington, D.C.

.    ATLANTA REGION

     Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services, Columbia, S.C.

.    CHICAGO REGION

     Caracole House, Cincinnati, Ohio

.    DALLAS REGION

     James D. Waltner, M.D., F.A.A.P., physician administrator,
     New Mexico Human Services Department, Santa Fe, N.M.

.    KANSAS CITY REGION

     Missouri Department of Health, Care Coordination Staff,
     Jefferson   City, Mo.

.    DENVER REGION

     Seton House, Denver, Colo.

.    SAN FRANCISCO REGION

     Susan J. Williams, benefit counselor, AIDS Benefits
     Counselors,   San Francisco, Calif.
     AIDS Community Care Team, Honolulu, Hawaii

.    SEATTLE REGION

     The Northwest Family Center, Seattle, Wash.

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