The deadline is quickly approaching to nominate physicians for the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation and Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) 2016 Leadership Awards, which celebrate the efforts of extraordinary individuals and organizations who make a difference in the health of Californians.

The four awards include:

The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award
This award recognizes an individual physician for his or her contributions toward the health of various ethnic communities, who has shown great success in eliminating health disparities, addressing access to care, and improving cultural competency and patient advocacy. The purpose of the award is to honor an outstanding physician; inspire other physicians; and to promote leadership, caring and compassion in medicine. Nominations due by July 22, 2016.

Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award
The Frank E. Staggers, Sr., M.D., Outstanding Ethnic Physician Organization Award honors an ethnic physician organization that has taken significant action in improving the health of its community. Applicants will be evaluated based on their contribution to improving the health of their community, success at engaging physicians to be community advocates and efforts to reduce health disparities. Nominations due by July 22, 2016.

Access to Health Care and Disparities Award
The Adarsh S. Mahal, M.D., Access to Health Care and Disparities Award honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary interest in and efforts to improve access to health care or reduce health care disparities in California. Nominations due by August 1, 2016.

Leadership Achievement Award
The Robert D. Sparks, M.D., Leadership Achievement Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary interest in and efforts to improve community health, consistent with the mission of the CMA Foundation—to champion improved individual and community health through a partnership of leaders in medicine, related health professions and the community. Nominations due by August 1, 2016.

The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award and the Ethnic Physician Leadership Award will be presented at the annual NEPO Building Healthy Communities Summit in Newport Beach on September 16-18, 2016. The Leadership Achievement Award and the Access to Health Care and Disparities Award will be presented at the CMA Foundation’s President’s Reception and Awards Gala on October 15, 2016, during CMA’S annual House of Delegates meeting in Sacramento.

Nomination information and packets for each award are available at the CMA Foundation website.

Contact: Anita Charles, (916) 779-6623 or acharles@thecmafoundation.org.