The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation and its Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO) are seeking nominations for the Foundation's 2017 Leadership Awards, which celebrate the efforts of extraordinary individuals and organizations who make a difference in the health of Californians. All nominations are due by August 18, 2017.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

The Ethnic Physician Leadership Award and the Ethnic Physician Leadership Award will be presented at the annual NEPO Building Healthy Communities Summit, held October 19-20, 2017 in Anaheim. 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 21, 2017 in Anaheim

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

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