Annual Awards

2026 Awardees 

2026 Award Descriptions and Link to Submit Nominations for 2027 are Below

TPHA recognizes outstanding efforts and leadership in its members and partners each year through the awards listed below.  Awardees (pictured below) were recognized at a luncheon on Thursday, September 24 during the 2026 Annual Conference.  

 R. H. Hutcheson, Sr. MD Award

This award is named in honor of Dr. R. H. Hutcheson, Sr., Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Public Health for many years. The award is to be presented to that person in the field of public health who has made outstanding contributions to public health over a period of several years.  The nominee must have been a member of TPHA for a minimum of five (5) years and an Active or Life Member of the Association in the year the award is given. 

2026 winner is Danna Taylor, Gibson County Health Departments.

Alex B. Shipley, MD, Aw

This award is named in honor of Dr. Alex B. Shipley, Health Director of the East Tennessee Grand Division for a number of years. An outspoken advocate of public health, Dr. Shipley’s work contributed greatly to building local health department infrastructure in Tennessee. This award is to be presented to an employee of a regional or local health department who has made outstanding contributions in the field of public health over a period of several years. The nominee must be a member of TPHA for five (5) years, including the year upon which the award is based. 

2026 winner is Emily Rushing, Director for Henderson, Carroll, and Decatur County Health Departments.

Public Health Worker Award

This award is presented to that person in the field of public health who, during the past three years, has provided outstanding service to the field. The person must be in full-time employment in the field and must hold active or life membership in the Association.  

2026 winner is Casie Higginbotham, Academic Health Department Director, Tennessee Department of Health.

Public Health Work Group Award

This award is presented to a local, regional, or state public health group, unit, or department that has made an outstanding contribution to public health. At least a portion of the team must be a current member of TPHA during the year in which the award is given.

2026 winner is the Tennessee Department of Health Foodborne and Enteric Diseases Team

Partner and Leadership Award (Individual and Group)

This award is presented to a non-public health professional, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution on behalf of public health, which is extraordinary and would set an example for others. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, two separate categories of PAL Awards (group/organization and individual) may be presented in a given year.  

2026 PAL Group Award recipient is the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health Research. 

The Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service

The Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service award recipient is recommended based on their significant contributions made to the Association and approved by the TPHA Board of Directors.  

LaShan Dixon, MS, GCHCM, GCG is this year's recipient of the Doris Spain Award for Distinguished Service in recognition for her major contributions to the mission of the Tennessee Public Health Association. LaShan is the Director of Faith-Based and Community Engagement, Division of Health Disparities Elimination for TDH. She is a member of TPHA's Board of Directors for which she serves as TPHA President.    

Section Awards

Each of TPHA's Sections may choose to honor one of their members with an award. 

Jodi Southerland, DrPH, assistant professor at East Tennessee State University, and Heather Tillewein, assistant professor at Austin Peay State University are the 2026 Academician of the Year for TPHA's Academic Section.  

The dental section has chosen to recognize Pam Isley as the 2026 Dental Servant's Heart Award recipient.

Katie McMinn is recognized by the Health Education and Promotion section as the 2026 Health Educator award recipient. 

Award Nomination Form

Previous Award Winners