PHA Outstanding Membership Awards
The purpose of PHA Outstanding Membership Awards is to recognize the contributions of individuals and families in the Pulmonary Hypertension community. Winners were be announced at the 2006 Conference in Minneapolis.
Below you will find the award categories, the criteria used to make the award selection, this year's award winners, and a listing of previous winners.
Christina Puckett
Awarded to someone who focuses his/her efforts on the
needs of a disabled loved one and does his/her best to
ensure the patient has the best quality of life possible.
Christina was the sole PH caregiver for her mother
from the time she was 12 years old until her mom’s
death in April. Christina has taken an active role in
leading a PH Support Group,
has been instrumental in PHA
fundraisers, and received 13
nominations for this award
including one from her
mom. Today at age 21, and a
tireless advocate for the PH
community, she just received
her bachelor’s degree at UCSD
in Biochemistry.
Previous recipients: Linda Rocco
(2004); Jerry Paton (2002); Betty
Lou Wojciechowski (2000); Harry
Olson (1998)
Cheryl Massaro
Southern Colorado
Support Group
Awarded to a support group leader
who provides a welcoming environment for patients,
families and friends of PH patients; champions and serves
PHA by leading local efforts to raise awareness; leads
and participates in advocacy efforts; and acts as a PH
ambassador to the general public.
Cheryl works tirelessly to help others with PH to
become educated on their disease and be proactive
in their care. Cheryl always has a positive outlook
and encourages others not to give up. As a helpline
volunteer and facilitator for the Southern Colorado
Pulmonary Hypertension Group of the Pikes Peak
Region, Cheryl offers others the information and
encouragement they need to advocate for themselves
to the medical community. Her support group has
hosted educational programs for firefighters and
emergency room professionals. In addition, Cheryl
coordinates the support group newsletter which
is mailed out monthly and continues to provide
information and hope to the group’s members. “I’m
a fighter,” she says of herself.
Previous recipients: Jeane Szwarc, CSR (2004); Joanne
Sperando-Schmidt (2002); Maribeth
McCarthy (2000)
Gail Boyer Hayes
Awarded to a patient, individual,
family or group that exemplifies
dedication to the PH community
through any combination of the
following: raising awareness,
advocating for PH patients,
participating in fundraising efforts,
service to PHA and providing the
public with a voice and face of the
PH community.
Gail is an attorney, pilot, writer
of fiction and non-fiction, and
TV talk show host. She was
diagnosed with PH in 1983 and
has been an active member of
PHA since 1993. Her biggest
contribution to the PH community is her book, now
in its 3rd edition, entitled Pulmonary Hypertension: A
Patient’s Survival Guide. This publication has become
the bible for patients, families, and health care
professionals dealing with pulmonary hypertension.
Gail has devoted thousands and thousands of hours
to the research, writing, and editing of each edition
of the Survival Guide.
Previous recipients: Candi Bleifer (2004); Shirley Craig
& Stibbs Family (2002); Bonnie Dukart & Smith Family
(2000); Jan Travioli & Simpson Family (1998); Dorothy
Olson & Pat Paton (1996); Teresa Knazik (1994)
C. Gregory Elliott, MD
LDS Hospital, University of Utah
School of Medicine
Awarded for making a significant contribution in PH
medicine through any combination of the following:
service to PHA, conducting research, providing
outstanding and compassionate care to PH patients,
and increasing advocacy and awareness in the PH
community.
Dr. Elliott is the Clinical Director at LDS Hospital’s
Pulmonary Hypertension Center in Salt Lake City
and Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah.
Dr. Elliott’s first contact with PHA was as a PH
researcher. Shortly before PHA’s first conference
in 1994 – recognizing that it would be the largest
gathering of PH patients ever held – Dr. Elliott had
contacted the organization asking for permission to
draw blood and obtain family histories during the
event. The information collected was shared with
other physicians and contributed to the subsequent
discovery of the PH gene(s).
In 2001, Dr. Elliott became the second Chair of
PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council (known then
as the Scientific Advisory Board). It was a time
when PHA’s growth was accelerating rapidly. He
responded by beginning the process of organizing
the body into a more structured group, developing
committees that spurred the involvement of
more leading physicians and the initiation of new
programming, including PHA’s groundbreaking
medical journal, Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension.
Besides his continuing service to the SLC – he led the
organization of this year’s Scientific Sessions – Dr.
Elliott also serves on PHA’s Board of Trustees.
Dr. Elliott has said that his patients are his real
heroes and they have inspired him to focus his work,
to explore new therapies, and to seek the cure for PH.
Previous recipients: Dr. Michael D. McGoon (2004); Dr.
David Badesch (2002); Dr. Bruce Brundage (2000); Dr.
Stuart Rich (1998); Dr. Lewis Rubin (1996); Dr. Walker
Long (1994)
Daniela Brady, RN
New York Presbyterian PH Center
Awarded for contributing to the PH community through
any combination of the following: participation in
advocacy and awareness efforts, service to PHA, and
providing kind and compassionate care to PH patients.
Daniela’s service to PHA, and the PH community
is difficult to put into words. She is 100% dedicated
to her work and to those who are living with PH.
Anything Daniela does is for the good of the patients
and for the PH community as a whole. Furthermore,
the level of care she provides is beyond all
expectations. Daniela’s understanding of the needs
and concerns of patients is unsurpassed. No matter
what the need or problem she responds ASAP with
a solution. Her dedication is amazing - she puts in a
lot of time in caring for patients and their families.
Previous recipients: Eileen Shalit, RN, BSN (2004); Traci
Housten-Harris, RN, MS (2002); Beth Vogel, RN (2000);
Cathy J. Anderson-Severson, RN, BSN (1998)
Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Tom Lantos (D-CA)
This special award is being given for extraordinary efforts
in advancing the cause of PH research, education, and
awareness through the legislative process
PHA’s journey through the legislative process
has been far beyond reasonable expectations. It
began in 2001, when a high-ranking representative
of the CDC showed a small group of PH patients
and family members a simple bar chart comparing
the number of PH patients in the U.S. with the
much larger number of heart disease patients…
and said, “So, you can understand why we
can’t put government resources into pulmonary
hypertension.”
Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) reacted then
with the passion of an advocate – and has not
stopped since. He soon introduced the PH Research
Act and arranged a series of meetings that helped
both the CDC and NHLBI to work more effectively
with the PH community to achieve the impossible.
In November 2004, Congressman Brady was joined
by another extraordinary advocate for our cause.
At PHA’s first Legislative Luncheon, Congressman
Tom Lantos (D-CA) and his wife Annette attended
with three of their granddaughters, one of whom
had recently been diagnosed with PH. During the
event, he spoke the words, “This will be my highest
priority while I remain in Congress.” Each day he
has been proving the truth of those words.
Out of their individual commitment emerged an
extraordinary bi-partisan partnership. Together
they have created and recruited for the new
Congressional PH Caucus. Working in partnership
with each other and our grassroots advocates, they
have driven forward the numbers of co-sponsors
for the PH Research Act to an almost unheard of
246 members of the House and 10 in the Senate.
Through Congressional hearings and administrative
meetings, they have assured that PHA has a place
at the table – a place where we can be heard as we
explain why pulmonary hypertension research and
education is an important national priority.
These two members of Congress have demonstrated
that Congress can and does work – even for people
living with a rare and under-diagnosed illness – and
we thank and honor them for it.
Heather Koczur
Christi Hetrick
Julie Paton Hendry, daughter of PHA founding members
Pat and Jerry Paton, was the first full time non-patient
PHA volunteer. She looked forward to meeting at
conference the PH patients and families who she talked
with over the telephone or email. Sadly, Julie died in June,
1998. In her memory, her family established the Julie
Hendry Memorial Scholarship Award to help other nonpatient
volunteers attend Conference.
For the first time since it was first introduced, the
Julie Hendry Memorial Scholarship will be awarded
to two outstanding non-patient PH community
members. This year there was a tie and the award
was given to both Christi Hetrick and Heather
Koczur for their outstanding contribution to the PH
community as non-patient supporters.
Heather Koczur raises awareness about PH through
racing marathons and other distance runningevents.
In the last year, Heather became more
active in PHA’s weekly volunteer nights and as a
graphic artist, designing the PHA Rockin’ for the
Cure guitars theme posters and images used for the
event materials. Heather has clocked in hundreds
of hours in graphic art design, in administrative
work at volunteer night, and in consulting for a pilot
marathon/running fundraiser campaign.
Christi Hetrick is active in the PH community.
Christi’s daughter Darby is her motivation for all
that she does. Christi organized a successful golf
tournament, Darby’s Drive for PH, as well as other
awareness raising and fundraising events. Christi
continues to support PHA by offering her layout
and graphic art talents, designing PHA’s Awareness
posters and PHA’s exhibit booths for special events
and educational outreach. Christi also designed this
year’s conference logo.
Previous recipients: Theresa Kuhn (2004); Dena Giddens
(2002); Carol Wilson (2000)
Corporation of the Year
Encysive
Pharmaceuticals
Previous winners: TheraCom
[Caremark] (2004); Actelion
Pharmaceuticals (2002); Gentiva
Health Care [Accredo Tx] (2000)
Foundation of the Year
Oracle
Previous winners: The Medtronic
Foundation (2004); Dauna Leigh Bauer
Foundation (2002); Ronald McDonald
House Charities (2000)
