Premios Big Shots for Arizona

Big Shot nominee, Caitlin McGlade’s, award-worthy article, “Herd Immunity for Measles in Arizona Kindergartens Drops by Half,” reveals a startling decline in measles immunity among Arizona’s kindergarteners, from 94% in 2012 to just 48% in 2023. Through expert interviews and parent perspectives, McGlade expertly highlights the growing challenges in maintaining herd immunity, including barriers to access and vaccine hesitancy. Her impactful reporting not only raised awareness but also directly influenced policy changes within Arizona’s Vaccines for Children program, demonstrating how journalism can drive tangible improvements in public health.

The Pima County Communications Office, in collaboration with the Health Department, launched The Misadventures of Long COVID, a creative comic campaign designed to simplify complex health information and engage diverse audiences. Using CDC guidance, the campaign’s three-phase, six-month effort promoted vaccination, raised awareness, and educated the public about Long COVID’s effects through multi-channel outreach in both English and Spanish. Interactive elements, like a mascot and games, helped connect with underserved communities and combat communication fatigue, while also reaching groups less engaged with traditional health messages. The campaign’s success in revitalizing public health messaging has received positive community feedback and will serve as a model for future outreach efforts.

When headlines meet home life, public health wins.

Bill Goodykoontz, a reporter for The Arizona Republic, has brought thoughtful, accurate coverage of public health topics to Arizona readers—often with a little help from someone very close to home: his wife, Susan Goodykoontz, an epidemiologist with the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Through kitchen-table conversations and front-page features, this dynamic duo has helped Arizonans better understand disease prevention, vaccines, and the science that keeps our communities safe. Their partnership shows how personal connection and professional commitment can work hand-in-hand to make public health messaging more powerful—and more human.

Arizona Families for Vaccines (AZFV) is a coalition of diverse community members dedicated to advocating for strong public health legislation in Arizona. The organization works to ensure that laws reflect the values of the majority of Arizonans who support vaccines. AZFV hosts an annual “Day of Advocacy” at the Arizona State Capitol, where they address key legislative issues affecting public health and contribute to media efforts raising awareness about vaccination.  AZFV empowers individuals to speak out and plays a crucial role in promoting informed, science-driven public health policy in Arizona.

Zaida Dedolph Piecoro led advocacy efforts at Children’s Action Alliance, successfully integrating children’s coverage levels into Arizona’s discussions on child wellbeing through initiatives like All Kids Count and the Annie Casey Foundation. She evaluated Arizona’s standards of care and, seeing a decline in coverage, worked relentlessly to improve these levels. Her dedication led her to serve as a policy advisor in the Hobbs administration, focusing on child health and wellbeing. Zaida’s expertise and experience were instrumental in advising the governor on vaccination bills, playing a crucial role in protecting and improving children’s health in Arizona by preventing harmful policies.

Susie is a highly respected attorney and lobbyist with extensive experience advocating for the American Academy of Pediatrics-Arizona Chapter and the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians at the Capitol. As a key member of the TAPI’s advocacy team, she works closely with vaccine advocates to advance positive policies and prevent harmful ones. Susie is known for her steadfast commitment to helping navigate complex policy issues and consistently advocates for organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of children.

Jacque Alvillar and Andrea Cabrera were nominated for their outstanding effort in creating a seamless interface between ASIIS and the EHR at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, overcoming a long-standing communication barrier. Jacque, a medical assistant, and Andrea, a Clinical Systems Analyst, worked tirelessly to troubleshoot and refine the connection, ensuring that providers had real-time access to accurate vaccine records from ASIIS. Their work led to significant improvements in vaccine administration, allowing providers to easily review immunization needs, discuss them with families, and order vaccines efficiently.

San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc. has made significant strides in improving community health in Yuma County through its innovative mobile immunization and physical exam efforts. The clinic conducted 20 mobile unit events, providing 244 childhood vaccines and 126 physical exams to students in collaboration with local school districts and WACOG Centers, ensuring children met school immunization requirements. Additionally, the clinic pioneered a farm worker vaccination program, administering 250 flu and COVID-19 vaccines in 2024 to agricultural workers and their families, reducing health disparities in this vulnerable population.

In 2024, Lake Havasu Pediatric & Family Clinic conducted over 50 mobile clinic events, providing essential vaccinations and well-child exams to underserved children, directly addressing healthcare access barriers. Collaborating with WACOG Head Start Centers and the Lake Havasu Health Foundation, the clinic facilitated large-scale immunization efforts, including back-to-school health fairs, reaching children who might otherwise go without. Through these initiatives, the clinic provided 221 well-child exams and administered 180 vaccinations, significantly improving immunization coverage in rural and underserved communities.

Patrice Ekpe Nipape, a lifelong public health champion, joined the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) in 2022, where his dedication to vaccine equity and education has made a profound impact. In his role as Testing Equity Coordinator, Patrice facilitated the distribution of over 10,000 COVID-19 test kits and conducted over 150,000 mobile tests in underserved communities. Transitioning to Vaccine Equity Coordinator in 2024, Patrice has become a key figure in promoting vaccine access, traveling statewide to health fairs, mobile clinics, and public health events to ensure all Arizonans have access to vaccines, free of charge.