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2010 Sheldon wagner award
News Release
April 7, 2010
Mahoney honored with Public Health award
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Health Department announced Tuesday night that Amy Mahoney is this year’s recipient of the Sheldon Wagner Public Health Service Award.
The Sheldon Wagner Public Health Service Award acknowledges those whose work embodies the spirit of compassion, dedication, achievement and commitment to improving public health, as well as to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions and motivated others. The award presentation was the highlight of the annual Public Health celebration event during Public Health Week, which this year is being observed this week.
Mahoney served during her working life as general manager of food and nutrition at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, retiring from that position in 2009. While working, she served on the Benton County Food Service Advisory Committee for 15 years as a strong representative not only of her employer and health care food services, but of the entire food industry.
During her tenure with the Food Service Advisory Committee, Mahoney provided important input toward a number of important food safety changes ranging from Oregon’s adoption of the 1999 Food and Drug Administration Food Code – which was the most significant change in food safety regulation in Oregon for at least 25 years – to providing key input aimed at improving how environmental health and the food protection program in particular are perceived in the community. On several occasions, Mahoney helped interview new employees and has allowed the department to use her kitchen to help assess applicants’ assessment skills.
Mahoney was among many notable volunteers nominated for the award. Other nominees included the following:
•Roger Weaver for his work on behalf of sexual minorities and to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic in gay communities, as well as his work to fight bullying in schools;
•Deborah Rubel for her strong and dependable contributions and her great energy and enthusiasm for the Peer Wellness Advisory Group;
•Ellie VanDevelder for her work – as a middle-school student, no less – to help county citizens better understand the challenging issue of homelessness through videos;
•Jim Leklem for his 20 years of service and leadership to the Benton County Solid Waste Advisory Council; and
•Carolyn Raab for her active membership on the Food Service Advisory Committee since 1996 and her collaboration with state government agencies to improve food safety awareness and education.
The event Tuesday night also featured the State of Benton County Public Health, delivered by Benton County Public Health Officer Dr. Bruce Thomson and the unveiling of the online Health Status Report. Representatives from the Benton County Board of Commissioners, various advisory board members and leadership from the Benton County Health Department were in attendance at the event. More than 60 community members attended the event.
