SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 13, 2023) – Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan today announced 60 individuals and organizations who will be recognized at the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s inaugural San Diego “Leading the Way” Awards Dinner at The Prado in Balboa Park on November 16, 2023.
The honorees represent a broad cross section of healthcare providers, community organizations, and public officials serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries across San Diego County. The awardees are being recognized for advancing health, equity, and innovation across the region.
“Our progress in serving members and the communities across San Diego County is enhanced by all those who work together to improve the health and wellness of all San Diegans,” said Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield Promise. “We’re excited to host this event and express our deep gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose collaboration improves our combined ability to provide readily accessible, equitable, whole-person care.”
Honorees will be recognized for leadership in several categories, such as health access, partnership excellence, community outreach, innovation, distinguished service, healthcare quality, and health equity.
Two of the awardees, Family Health Centers of San Diego and the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty, will be recognized with Visionary Awards for their vital roles serving the community.
“Family Health Centers of San Diego’s important work with Blue Shield Promise is transforming our region’s capacity to deliver cost-effective, compassionate, and life-saving care,” said Fran Butler-Cohen, CEO of Family Health Centers and recipient of this year’s Visionary Award for an individual. “We are honored to celebrate the results we’ve achieved together in San Diego County by bridging gaps in access to urgent medical and cardiac care services, and facilitating transitions to home and community care that reduce repeated and avoidable emergency room visits for patients.”
“Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty is honored by Blue Shield Promise’s recognition of our organization’s leadership in delivering life-changing services to San Diegans,” said Arnulfo Manriquez, president and CEO of the advisory committee, and recipient of this year’s Visionary Award for a group. “From ensuring Medi-Cal beneficiaries keep their coverage to important education, health, economic, and affordable housing development programming, our goal of achieving systems change aligns with Blue Shield’s innovative approaches to transform health care.”
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Leading the Way 2023 Honorees
Leading the Way Visionary Award
- Fran Butler-Cohen, CEO, Family Health Centers of San Diego (Individual Award)
- MAAC (Group Award)
Leading the Way for Inspiring Leadership
- The Honorable Nora Vargas, Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, District 1 (Individual Award)
- Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan San Diego Member Advisory Committee, Provider Advisory Council and Public Policy Committee (Group Award)
- Member Advisory Committee
- Jack Dailey, Legal Aid Society of San Diego
- Jacqueline Gutierrez, Blue Shield Promise Member
- Katrina Gutierrez, Blue Shield Promise Member
- Gary Martin, Blue Shield Promise Member
- Rick Ochocki, National Alliance for Mental Illness
- Ruth Relyea, Blue Shield Promise Member
- Aidee Roman, 211 San Diego
- Leticia Zuno, Access to Independence
- Provider Advisory Council
- Fran Butler-Cohen, Family Health Centers of San Diego
- Alberto Cortes, Mama’s Kitchen
- Viet Dao, MD, Family Medicine
- Joe Diaz, California Association of Health Facilities
- Paul Durr, America's Physician Groups
- Tarek Hassanein, MD, Gateway Comprehensive Medical Group and Southern California GI and Liver Centers
- Paul Hegyi, San Diego County Medical Society
- Hassan Kafri, MD, Kafri Heart and Vascular Clinic
- Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Kenneth Schell, PharmD, RPh, FASHP, FCSHP, California Society of Health Systems Pharmacists
- Kate Sheldon-Princi, MEd, BCBA, California Psychcare
- Jennifer Tuteur, MD, San Diego County Department of Health and Human Services
- Public Policy Committee
- Dimitrios Alexiou, Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties
- Member Advisory Committee
Leading the Way for Partnership Excellence
- MedPoint Management (Provider Organization Award)
- Diana Curry
- Andrea Ramos
- Children's Physicians Medical Group Provider Relations (Provider Organization Award)
- AnnaMarie Agreda
- Denise Aguirre
- Noelle Duong
- Wanda Koreski
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego (Community Organization Award)
- YMCA of San Diego County (Community Organization Award)
Leading the Way for Innovation
- Father Joe’s Villages – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California (Provider Organization Award)
- 211 San Diego (Community Organization Award)
Leading the Way for Health Equity
- San Diego American Indian Health Center – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California (Provider Organization Award)
- The San Diego LGBT Community Center (Community Organization Award)
Leading the Way for Equitable Health Access
- Casa Familiar
- For the Village
- Er Kai Gao, MD, Neurology Specialist
- Imaging Healthcare Specialists
- Rosa Navarro, MD, Pain Medicine Specialist
- Renaissance Home Health
- San Diego Regional Center
- San Ysidro Health Mobile Health Services – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Adel Tawfilis, DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist
- Union of Pan Asian Communities
Leading the Way for Community Outreach
- La Maestra Community Health Centers (Provider Organization Award)
- San Diego Wellness Collaborative (Community Organization Award)
Leading the Way for Distinguished Service
- Damaris De La Torre, Neighborhood Healthcare (Provider Organization Award)
- Josie Nuqui, MD, Operation Samahan (Provider Organization Award)
- Live Well San Diego (Community Organization Award)
- SAY San Diego (Community Organization Award)
Leading the Way for Quality Healthcare
- Community Health Systems, Inc. – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Overall Small Group
- Family Health Centers of San Diego
- Top Performer – Overall Large Group
- Top Performer – Well-Child Visits (0-14 months)
- Imperial Beach Community Clinic – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Breast Cancer Screening
- La Maestra Community Health Centers
- Top Performer – Childhood Immunizations
- Neighborhood Healthcare – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Diabetes Care
- Top Performer – Follow-up after ED Visit for Substance Use
- Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego
- Top Performer – Well Child Visits (15-30 months)
- San Diego Family Care – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Overall Mid-size Group
- Top Performer – Prenatal Care
- TrueCare – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Chlamydia Screening
- Top Performer – Follow-up after ED Visit for Mental Illness
- Top Performer – Lead Screening
- Vista Community Clinic – A Member of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California
- Top Performer – Overall
- Top Performer – Adolescent Immunizations
- Top Performer – Cervical Cancer Screening
- Top Performer – Controlling High Blood Pressure
- Top Performer – Postpartum Care
- Top Performer – Well-Child Visits (3-21 years)
