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S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., Director, DeKalb County Board
of Health, received a Humanitarian of the Year Award
from the Dominique Wilkins Foundation at the Fox
Theatre. Pictured (L to R) with: Lila Womack, Dr. S.
Elizabeth Ford, Val Archer, Jocelyn Dorsey, Eldrin Bell
and Deion Sanders.Rear: Dominique Wilkins
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Amid a silent auction with glitz, glamour and a celebrity red
carpet,S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., received a Humanitarian of the Year
Award from the Dominique Wilkins Foundation last Thursday at the Fox
Theatre in Atlanta.
As district health director of the DeKalb County Board of Health,
Dr. Ford was honored along with Clayton County Commission Chairman
Eldrin Bell, TV personality Jocelyn Dorsey, community activist Lila
Womak, music producer Dallas Austin, sports personality Deion
Sanders and cable television executive Ted Turner.
Other presenters included Dr. David Satcher, director of the Satcher
Health Leadership Institute and, musician Joey Sommerville and more
than 400 guests.
Dr. Ford was nominated for the 2012 Humanitarian Award for her
stellar work at the DeKalb County Board of Health tackling severe
health problems such as childhood obesity, infant mortality and
diabetes using innovative approaches and partnerships.
DeKalb was the only county to receive federal Communities Putting
Prevention to Work grants totaling $5.6 million to create
smoke-free environments and to reduce obesity and to improve
nutrition.
"It was quite humbling to receive such praise and recognition with
other such well known recipients and to be presented the award by my
hero, Dr. Satcher." said Dr. Ford.
Dr. Ford reminded the 400 attendees of the silent, yet critical,
role of public health in touching every one, every day - from
inspecting restaurants, to addressing outbreaks, to helping to
create smoke-free environments.
Funding from the event will support the American Diabetes
Association and the STARS Leadership Foundation to reduce
diabetes and to mentor at-risk youth
-Story by Vickie Elisa, Division Director, Marketing and
Business Development, DeKalb County Board of Health; S.
Elizabeth Ford, MD, District Health Director, District 3-5
