Last month, over 700 public health, health care, school and community leaders joined Commissioner Auerbach at the DPH-sponsored "Responding to H1N1 Influenza: Lessons Learned" conference at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
The day- long event provided an opportunity to review lessons learned and highlight best practices from the 2009-2010 H1N1 flu season. Presenters from a variety of fields and disciplines shared their experiences on topics ranging from patient education, vaccine distribution, outreach to vulnerable populations and non-traditional partnerships.
In addition, Commissioner Auerbach presented Public Health Hero awards to thirteen organizations who took extraordinary steps during the pandemic. The ceremony was an opportunity for DPH to publicly recognize the hard work and dedication of these organizations which helped protect the health of the public and reduce the number of people who developed serious illness and the number who died.
Public Health Hero Award Winners
Coalition for Local Public Health
Commonwealth Medicine Office of Health Care Finance
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services Regions
Massachusetts Hospital Association
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
Massachusetts Medical Society
Massachusetts School Nurse Organization
Massachusetts Section of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
Medical Reserve Corps units of Massachusetts
Northeastern University School Health Institute
Statewide Emergency Preparedness Coalitions
An archived webcast of the entire conference - including all breakout sessions, presentations and the award ceremony - is available on our website.
This was a terrific event. Thank you for recognizing the work of the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers across the state.
Kathleen Conley Norbut M.Ed., LMHC
Coordinator, MRC Western MA
Posted by: Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC | June 14, 2010 at 10:23 AM