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Michigan's Cheryl A. Szof receives federal, state recognition for contributions to childhood immunization
May 03, 2016
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2016
LANSING, Mich. – Cheryl A. Szof, B.S. RPh from Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit has been named CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for her outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization in her community.
“Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to proudly acknowledge Cheryl A. Szof’s passion, hard work, and commitment to childhood immunization,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Szof, a pharmacist, is recognized for more than 30 years of immunization education in Detroit and southeast Michigan. She is the immunization resource person for the Detroit Medical Center pharmacies, and also for nursing students at Wayne State University. Since 1993, she has been an integral member of the Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM) coalition, serving on many education sub-committees.
“With pharmacists now becoming so involved in providing immunizations, I am especially honored as a pharmacist to have been chosen for this award. I have truly enjoyed being an immunization educator, and hope that through my enthusiasm for promoting and teaching about immunizations I've made an impact on the pharmacists and nurses that I've had the opportunity to teach,” said Szof.
Each year during National Infant Immunization Week, CDC and the CDC Foundation honor health professionals and community leaders from around the country with the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion awards. These awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of those individuals who strive to ensure that children in their communities are fully immunized against 14 preventable diseases before the age of two.
“Ensuring that every child is vaccinated on schedule is critical to protecting our children, schools, and communities from outbreaks of serious diseases,” said Dr. Amanda Cohn, a pediatrician at CDC and the Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “We could not achieve our goal of protecting children without those committed individuals who promote immunizations at the state and local levels.”
CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates, and other immunization leaders. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and submitted nominees to CDC. One winner was selected in each of the participating states and the District of Columbia.
For profiles of other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/champions/index.html.
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