The Billi Odegaard Public Health
Genius Awards
As part of Community Health Partnership’s commitment to
develop the public health workforce in Oregon, the CHP
Board of Directors established the Billi Odegaard Public Health
Genius Awards in 2002 to recognize and inspire innovation and
responsiveness in improving the health of the public.
Recipients of the Billi Odegaard Public Health Genius Awards
are distinguished by their creativity, risk-taking and boldness
in forging collaborative solutions to public health problems.
Nominees are Oregon residents whose primary work is
related to improving the health of the public in areas such
as public health, environmental health, disease and injury
prevention, wellness and health promotion or improving
health services to underserved, rural or minority
populations. Recipients of Billi Odegaard Public Health Genius
Awards (Genius Award, Exceptional Achievement Award or
Merit Award) receive a cash award, half of which is donated to
the community health organization or charity of their choice.
2009 Billi Odegaard Public Health Genius Award Winners
2009 Public Health Genius Award
Sharon Thornberry
Sharon Thornberry, Community Resource Developer at the Oregon Food Bank, has been influential in policy advocacy, coalition building, and incubating many 'grassroots' food-related efforts from conception to completion. She has tirelessly dedicated herself to increasing access to healthy food for low-income communities - particularly in often overlooked rural Oregon. One of her many advocacy efforts has benefited Oregon Food Bank clients - simultaneously advocating to stop providing junk food while working to increase the distribution of fruits and vegetables. Her dedication and passion for increasing access to healthful foods for low-income communities was born out of her own history and proves beneficial to many Oregonians.
2009 Innovative Achievement Award
Union County Fit Kids Coalition
Vicky Brogoitti, Director of the Union County Commission of Children and Families and Nancy Findholt, Associate Professor at OHSU's School of Nursing La Grande campus were recognized for their leadership of Union County Fit Kids Coalition. Rates of proper nutrition and physical activity among children in Union County are extremely low; leading to the county's high rate of childhood obesity. The Coalition is using collaborative and innovative action to combat the serious public health issue of childhood obesity in Union County, OR.
2009 Meritorious Services Award
James Sampson
Dr. James Sampson, founder and Executive Director of The Research and Education Group, received the "Meritorious Service" award for working tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to advance public health goals. He has dedicated his career to improving the public's health, specifically around HIV/AIDS - at both state and national levels. His commitment and passion is evident in his devotion to the HIV/AIDS community and his effectiveness is reflected by the relatively low AIDS death rates in Multnomah County over the past 25+ years.
2009 Legislator Award
Representative Tina Kotek
Congratulations to Representative Tina Kotek (D-North and Northeast Portland) for her courageous leadership in passage of one of the nation's earliest and strongest statewide menu labeling policies to address overweight and obesity. Representative Kotek led the fight to require chain restaurants across the state to post calorie information on menus and menu boards and provide additional nutrition information to consumers in a consistent, easy-to-find manner. The policy will affect chain restaurants located in Oregon with at least 15 outlets nation-wide. "Menu labeling" has been identified by several state task forces and national experts as a powerful tool to encourage consumers to make healthier choices when eating out. Representative Kotek is pictured here with Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler.
