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    Department of Health Team Receives Governor’s Awards for Excellence for Mpox Response Model Later Used by Other States

    October 26, 2023
    Cross-bureau team ensured equitable vaccine distribution to keep Pennsylvanians safe.

    Governors Awards of Excellence_10232023.jpg


    Harrisburg, PA - The Shapiro Administration announced the recipients of the 2023 Governor’s Awards for Excellence this week, which includes a Department of Health cross-bureau taskforce which led the response to the 2022 mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak.

    The members of the taskforce recognized with the awards are Bureau of Communicable Diseases Director Jill Garland; Public Health Program Directors Beth Butler, Thomas McCleaf, and Mari Jane Salem-Noll; Community Health Nurse Supervisor Mia Russo; Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response Director Andrew Pickett; Bureau of Epidemiology Assistant Director Lisa McHugh; Epidemiologist Manager Atmaram Nambiar; Bureau of Community Health Systems Nursing Director Jennifer Shirk; and Microbiologist Supervisor Melinda Johnston.

    “I am proud of the way this team strategically worked together to overcome logistical challenges and successfully distribute mpox tests, treatment, and vaccines to the populations most in need,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Acting Secretary of Health. “Thanks to this team working together across the Department, we were able to prevent mpox cases and deaths while supporting health equity in Pennsylvania.”

    The mpox team advocated for equitable vaccine distribution across the Commonwealth, working with federal partners and local health departments to ensure vaccine availability where the need was greatest. The team overcame a variety of challenges associated with a limited vaccine supply, developing a strategic plan to ensure that the vaccine and test kits were delivered to locations where individuals most impacted by the outbreak already receive services. Other jurisdictions across the country would later emulate the model used by Pennsylvania.   

    While the mpox outbreak spread throughout the country, this team’s efforts kept Pennsylvania case counts low, with no deaths occurring in the Commonwealth.

    The Governor’s Awards for Excellence recognize Commonwealth employees for exemplary job performance or service that reflects initiative, leadership, innovation and/or increased efficiency. A total of 54 employees from eight agencies received awards for accomplishments in 2022.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Mark O'Neill - ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

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