Tisha Reid, director of Health Equity and Cancer Control for Connections IN Health, won the Immunization Innovator award from the Indiana Immunization Coalition at their annual banquet. Connections IN Health is an initiative within the Community Health Partnerships program of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.
Tisha Reid (left) receiving award
“This is truly a team award,” said Reid. “This award would not be possible without the support from the IU Simon Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement Office. In order to be successful, we must innovatively work together to address tobacco use, which is the leading risk factor for cancer; and, address HPV the cancer-causing infection.”
Reid was nominated for the award by Antonia Sawyer, director of the Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative within Community Health Partnerships.
“Reid has accepted the challenge to combat cancer across the state of Indiana,” said Sawyer. “She has embarked on an innovative approach. For the first time, the directors of the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana, the Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition, and the Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative will join forces and cross collaborate with Reid to fight the deadly disease.”
Sawyer credits Reid’s expertise in cancer control, as well as her ability to communicate with professionals, shareholders and those with lived experience.
“By presenting HPV education and awareness to higher education students, Reid seeks to provide the tools needed to get young adults thinking about the prevention of this disease, through vaccination,” said Sawyer. “While the challenge is vast when considering the size of Indiana and its current health funding rank, Reid is a key to connecting partners with evidenced based practices and resources within Indiana communities.”
