BOSTON - Our Bodies Ourselves today inducted 20 Women's Health Heroes into the Health Heroes Hall of Fame, honoring the work of women's health advocates worldwide: http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/womens-health-heroes-2010
The 2010 inductees work in health fields in the United States and internationally. Among them: Roseanna Means, MD, founder of Women of Means, which provides free, patient-centered medical care for women and children in the Boston area; Laura Stachel, MD, founder of We Care Solar, a developer of solar-powered systems that help address maternity care needs in developing regions; Eugenia Lopez-Uribe, an activist and coordinator of the MARIA Abortion Fund for Social Justice in Mexico; John Varallo, an OB/GYN with a focus on international public health; Penn State University senior lecturer Jill Wood, a mentor to her students; Marianne Bullock and Lisa Andrews, co-founders of The Prison Birth Project; and RH Reality Check, an online daily publication covering reproductive health and justice issues.
Our Bodies Ourselves also selected three individuals who have died in the past year: civil rights activist Dorothy Height; environmentalist and human rights activist Rita Arditti; and abortion provider George Tiller, who was murdered in May 2009.
Two nominees were selected for special mention: Margaret Flowers, MD -- a health care reform activist and congressional fellow at Physicians for a National Health Program -- received the Audience Choice Award with 891 votes. OBOS selected Lynn Jackson, intake director at the Texas Equal Access Fund and national case manager for the National Network of Abortion Funds.
"The video that Lynn's co-workers submitted demonstrated the depth of Lynn's compassion and the inspiration she provides to everyone around her," said Our Bodies Ourselves Executive Director Judy Norsigian.
"We also applaud Margaret's persistence and advocacy of a single-payer health plan -- a plan Our Bodies Ourselves supported -- and look forward to her continued efforts to achieve real universal health care," added Norsigian.
This marks OBOS's second annual event spotlighting the diversity of care, education and activism in communities around the world. Within five years, at least 100 people who have made significant, long-lasting contributions to women's health will be honored for their work as Our Bodies Ourselves Women's Health Heroes.
"Bringing attention to their efforts gives us the chance to celebrate their accomplishments, while reminding us of the continued gaps in healthcare access," said Norsigian. "The dedication and talent of the nominees is truly inspirational."
After asking readers, "Who's your women's health hero?" OBOS received dozens of nominations. All video submissions and essays can be viewed here: http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/category/womens-health-heroes-2010
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2010 Women's Health Heroes Hall of Fame Inductees:
* Lynn Jackson: Intake director at the Texas Equal Access Fund & national case manager for the National Network of Abortion Funds
* Margaret Flowers, MD: Health care reform activist & congressional fellow at Physicians for a National Health Program
* Dorothy Height: Civil rights activist who advocated on behalf of women and children (1912 – 2010)
* Eugenia Lopez-Uribe: Activist and coordinator of the MARIA Abortion Fund for Social Justice (Mexico)
* Promotoras de la Salud: Community health workers in Springfield, Mass., providing sexual health education and information
* George Tiller, MD: Abortion provider whose motto was “Trust women.” Tiller was shot and killed in his church (1941 – 2009)
* Laura Stachel, MD: Founder of We Care Solar, providing solar-powered systems to meet maternity care needs in developing regions
* Wendy Chavkin, MD: Columbia University professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology; Founder, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
* Roseanna Means, MD: Founder of Women of Means, providing free, patient-centered medical care for women & children in the Boston area
* Rita Arditti: Environmentalist, human rights activist, breast cancer activist & co-founder of New Words women’s book store (1934 – 2009)
* John Varallo, MD: OB/GYN with a focus on international public health, including prevention and treatment of cervical cancer
* Whitney Pinger: Certified nurse midwife in Washington, D.C., working to provide midwifery care in hospital births
* Jill Wood: Senior lecturer in women’s studies at Penn State University & mentor to grateful students
* Marianne Bullock & Lisa Andrews: Co-founders, The Prison Birth Project, providing support to incarcerated women & girls
* Shirley Kailas: Kenyon College (Ohio) campus organizer around health issues & a peer counselor
* Duchy Trachtenberg: Member of Montgomery County (Md.) Council & public health advocate
* Carol Ciancutti-Leyva: Director, “Absolutely Safe,” documentary about the safety of breast implants and related health concerns
* Lorenza Holt: Executive director, Boston Association for Childbirth Education, & doula who empowers women
* Karen Hicks: Educator, author & advocate against medicalization of women’s sexuality
* RH Reality Check: Online daily publication covering reproductive health & justice issues
The 2010 inductees work in health fields in the United States and internationally. Among them: Roseanna Means, MD, founder of Women of Means, which provides free, patient-centered medical care for women and children in the Boston area; Laura Stachel, MD, founder of We Care Solar, a developer of solar-powered systems that help address maternity care needs in developing regions; Eugenia Lopez-Uribe, an activist and coordinator of the MARIA Abortion Fund for Social Justice in Mexico; John Varallo, an OB/GYN with a focus on international public health; Penn State University senior lecturer Jill Wood, a mentor to her students; Marianne Bullock and Lisa Andrews, co-founders of The Prison Birth Project; and RH Reality Check, an online daily publication covering reproductive health and justice issues.
Our Bodies Ourselves also selected three individuals who have died in the past year: civil rights activist Dorothy Height; environmentalist and human rights activist Rita Arditti; and abortion provider George Tiller, who was murdered in May 2009.
Two nominees were selected for special mention: Margaret Flowers, MD -- a health care reform activist and congressional fellow at Physicians for a National Health Program -- received the Audience Choice Award with 891 votes. OBOS selected Lynn Jackson, intake director at the Texas Equal Access Fund and national case manager for the National Network of Abortion Funds.
"The video that Lynn's co-workers submitted demonstrated the depth of Lynn's compassion and the inspiration she provides to everyone around her," said Our Bodies Ourselves Executive Director Judy Norsigian.
"We also applaud Margaret's persistence and advocacy of a single-payer health plan -- a plan Our Bodies Ourselves supported -- and look forward to her continued efforts to achieve real universal health care," added Norsigian.
This marks OBOS's second annual event spotlighting the diversity of care, education and activism in communities around the world. Within five years, at least 100 people who have made significant, long-lasting contributions to women's health will be honored for their work as Our Bodies Ourselves Women's Health Heroes.
"Bringing attention to their efforts gives us the chance to celebrate their accomplishments, while reminding us of the continued gaps in healthcare access," said Norsigian. "The dedication and talent of the nominees is truly inspirational."
After asking readers, "Who's your women's health hero?" OBOS received dozens of nominations. All video submissions and essays can be viewed here: http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/category/womens-health-heroes-2010
###
2010 Women's Health Heroes Hall of Fame Inductees:
* Lynn Jackson: Intake director at the Texas Equal Access Fund & national case manager for the National Network of Abortion Funds
* Margaret Flowers, MD: Health care reform activist & congressional fellow at Physicians for a National Health Program
* Dorothy Height: Civil rights activist who advocated on behalf of women and children (1912 – 2010)
* Eugenia Lopez-Uribe: Activist and coordinator of the MARIA Abortion Fund for Social Justice (Mexico)
* Promotoras de la Salud: Community health workers in Springfield, Mass., providing sexual health education and information
* George Tiller, MD: Abortion provider whose motto was “Trust women.” Tiller was shot and killed in his church (1941 – 2009)
* Laura Stachel, MD: Founder of We Care Solar, providing solar-powered systems to meet maternity care needs in developing regions
* Wendy Chavkin, MD: Columbia University professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology; Founder, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
* Roseanna Means, MD: Founder of Women of Means, providing free, patient-centered medical care for women & children in the Boston area
* Rita Arditti: Environmentalist, human rights activist, breast cancer activist & co-founder of New Words women’s book store (1934 – 2009)
* John Varallo, MD: OB/GYN with a focus on international public health, including prevention and treatment of cervical cancer
* Whitney Pinger: Certified nurse midwife in Washington, D.C., working to provide midwifery care in hospital births
* Jill Wood: Senior lecturer in women’s studies at Penn State University & mentor to grateful students
* Marianne Bullock & Lisa Andrews: Co-founders, The Prison Birth Project, providing support to incarcerated women & girls
* Shirley Kailas: Kenyon College (Ohio) campus organizer around health issues & a peer counselor
* Duchy Trachtenberg: Member of Montgomery County (Md.) Council & public health advocate
* Carol Ciancutti-Leyva: Director, “Absolutely Safe,” documentary about the safety of breast implants and related health concerns
* Lorenza Holt: Executive director, Boston Association for Childbirth Education, & doula who empowers women
* Karen Hicks: Educator, author & advocate against medicalization of women’s sexuality
* RH Reality Check: Online daily publication covering reproductive health & justice issues