NAMICon 2022 Virtual Event Honors Mental Health Leaders

Posted on June 19th, 2022

Arlington, VA — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has honored and presented awards for exemplary national, state, and local leaders as part of “NAMICon 2022, Together for Mental Health,” one of the nation’s largest gatherings of leaders and advocates across the mental health community.

The combined efforts of the award recipients are a force for positive change to improve the lives for both people with mental illness and their families. This year’s award winners are:

The (inaugural) NAMI CEO and Board President Award: Honors an exemplary individual for their extraordinary and tireless work in advancing NAMI and its mission.

• Ken Duckworth, M.D.

Cross Cultural Innovation and Engagement Award: Honors effective efforts to ensure that diversity and inclusion are high priorities within NAMI.

• NAMI-NYC

Gloria Huntley Award: Recognizes exemplary advocacy work by an individual or organization at the national or local level, nominated by the Advocacy Committee of the NAMI Peer Leadership Council.

• Diane Banks, Peer Leadership Council Representative, NAMI Texas
• Kimberly Comer, Peer Mentor Program Manager, NAMI Palm Beach County, FL

Joyce Burland Inspirational Award: Recognizes a NAMI staff member or volunteer who has demonstrated creativity, dedication and resourcefulness to offer or expand NAMI’s national education programs, and who has served as an inspiration to families, individuals with a mental health condition or the public through their work with NAMI programs.

• Amye Trefethen, Program Director, NAMI Missouri

Ken Steele Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual living with mental illness to improve the quality of life, increase empowerment, and promote integration and inclusion for their peers.

• Jeremiah Rainville, Recovery Service Coordinator, NAMI Rhode Island

Lionel Aldridge Champions Award: Recognizes an individual with mental illness who demonstrates courage, leadership and service in their work to promote recovery and ensure that all people with mental illness live full lives in their communities.

• Glenn Roil, Founder of the Roil Group, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Outstanding NAMI Affiliate: Recognizes a NAMI Affiliate that demonstrates exceptional leadership, strong community presence, outreach to diverse communities and exemplary stewardship of the NAMI mission.

• NAMI Boulder County (CO)

Outstanding NAMI State Organization: Recognizes the exemplary efforts of a NAMI State Organization to carry out the NAMI mission.

• NAMI Delaware

Richard and Betsy Greer Advocacy Award: Honors NAMI advocates whose leadership and vision have advanced policy and advocacy efforts that impact individuals with mental illness and their families. For 2022, we invited nominations for individuals who have substantially advanced policy or advocacy related to our strategic goal of “People Getting Diverted from Justice System Involvement” — whether 988 specifically or crisis response generally.

• Kim Jones, Executive Director, NAMI Georgia

Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination: Honors an individual or organization that has raised public awareness, reduced stigma and advanced our mission to build better lives for people with mental illness and their families.

• Hugh Brady, Director, NAMI Illinois

Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award: Honors an exemplary individual whose work in the criminal justice system has improved the fair and humane treatment of people with mental illness. For 2022, we invited nominations for individuals who have substantially contributed to our strategic goal of “People Getting Diverted from Justice System Involvement.”

• Dr. Margie Balfour, Chief of Quality and Clinical Innovation, Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, AZ

Young Leader Award: Honors a young adult (age 25 and under) who exemplifies exceptional leadership among their peers to foster a culture of recovery and resiliency that helps young people with mental illness live full lives in their communities.

• Amber Leyba-Castle, Young and Well Coordinator, NAMI Idaho

Exemplary Psychiatrist Awards: Honors psychiatrists who have made exceptional contributions to improve the lives of people with mental health conditions.

• Robert Accordino, M.D., M.Sc., New York, NY
• Cheryl Corcoran, M.D., New York, NY
• Robert Cotes, M.D., Atlanta, GA
• Benjamin Druss, M.D., MPH, Atlanta, GA
• James Ellison, M.D., Wilmington, DE
• Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D., Philadelphia, PA
• Ijeoma Ijeaku, M.D., MPH, F.A.P.A., Beaumont, CA
• Steve Koh, M.D., MPH, MBA, D.F.A.P.A., San Diego, CA
• Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., New York, NY
• Andrew Nierenberg, M.D., Boston, MA
• Mohini Ranganathan, M.D., M.B.B.S., West Haven, CT
• Anthony Sossong, M.D., M.S., Boston, MA
• KyleeAnn Stevens, M.D., St. Paul, MN
• John Torous, M.D., MBI, Boston, MA
• Sophia Vinogradov, M.D., Minneapolis, MN
• Michael Zarzar, M.D., Raleigh, NC

Original Article: NAMICon 2022 Virtual Event Honors Mental Health Leaders