From left, Candyce Luna, an integrated operational support team manager at Holloman Air Force Base, and Melissa Limon, a surveillance epidemiologist at the New Mexico Office of Border Health, were recipients of the 2024 Public Health Heroes Awards, presented by the Department of Public Health Sciences at New Mexico State University. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
Source: NMSU News Release
WRITER: Carlos Andres López, 575-646-1955, carlopez@nmsu.edu
New Mexico State University’s Department of Public Health Sciences honored three individuals for their work in promoting military health, border health and mental health.
The NMSU Public Health Heroes Awards, now in its ninth year, recognize and celebrate local public health heroes for their ongoing contributions and commitments to public health. Humaira Rahman, assistant professor of public health sciences, led this year’s award ceremony, which coincided with National Public Health Week in early April.
Candyce Luna, an integrated operational support team manager at Holloman Air Force Base and NMSU alumna, received the Individual Award for building military health with innovative health care integration. The award recognizes a recipient who provides distinguished services to the community and significant contributions as a leader in developing healthier communities.
“Candyce is well-respected and successful in public health for our area,” Rahman said. “She received a promotion to manager as her group works very closely with the clinical staff.”
Melissa Limon, a surveillance epidemiologist at the New Mexico Office of Border Health, and the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program received the Community Program Award for distinguished service and outstanding contributions in binational work with Mexico. The award recognizes an organization or program that provides excellent services and integrates the value of health into the community.
“Melissa is a seasoned border epidemiologist in the BIDS program who has her pulse on border issues to improve our border region,” Rahman said. “She is greatly respected with her binational diplomacy. She works with partners to tailor surveillance to local disease priorities, focus on special populations, and detect potential outbreaks.
Dylan Pell, a mental health epidemiologist at the New Mexico Department of Health and NMSU alumnus, received the Rising Star Award for outstanding public health contributions as a rising leader promoting healthier communities. The award recognizes a rising public health professional who promotes healthy communities for mental health.
“Dylan’s work at NMDOH focuses on the State of Mental Health in New Mexico report, and he is a co-author of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report for New Mexico that focuses on the seasonal trends in emergency department visits nationwide for mental and behavioral health conditions among school-aged children,” Rahman said.
Rahman presented the awards last month in a ceremony at the New Mexico Department of Health office in Las Cruces, along with Becky Pearson, head of the Department of Public Health Sciences, Cindy Kratzke, associate professor emeritus, and Dean Yoshi Iwasaki of the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation.
For more information about the awards, contact Rahman at hrahman@nmsu.edu.
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