AMA salutes public officials for dedication to health care with top award

For immediate release
April 1, 2008

WASHINGTON — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced the eight recipients of the 2008 Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service – the highest award for a public official from the nation's largest physician organization. Forrest Sawyer, veteran television journalist, will present the awards at an AMA awards dinner tonight in Washington, D.C in conjunction with the AMA's National Advocacy Conference.

"Through the Nathan Davis Award, the American Medical Association salutes government officials that go above and beyond the call of duty to improve public health," said AMA Board Chair Edward Langston, MD. "Award winners come from every branch of government service, and are a testament to the important role public officials play in creating and implementing health policy that benefits Americans."

The award, named for the founding father of the AMA, recognizes the highest public service standards throughout all levels of government.  The awards are granted in seven categories of public service, and are recognized nationally as one of the most prestigious honors for government service that advances public health. This is the 19th anniversary for the award and this year's recipients are:

United States Senator

• The Honorable Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator, Iowa

United States Representative

• The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer, U.S. House Majority Leader, Fifth District of Maryland

State Governor

• The Honorable M. Jodi Rell, Connecticut Governor

Member of a State Legislature

• The Honorable Peter T. Ginaitt, RN, EMT, former Rhode Island Representative (22nd District)
• The Honorable Kathleen Sgambati, New Hampshire Senator (4th District)

Member of Executive Branch in career public service

• W. Marston Linehan, MD, Chief, Urologic Research, National Cancer Institute

Career public servant at the state level

• Guthrie S. Birkhead, MD, Director of the Center for Community Health and the AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health

Career public servant at the local level

• Ronald W. Chapman, MD, MPH, Public Health Officer and Deputy Director, Solano County Health & Social Services, California

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For additional information, please contact:

Leah Dudowicz
AMA Media Relations
(312) 464-4813