Surgeon General Medallions Awarded to Two Local Public Health Legends

Two local public health legends, colleagues and associates of the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health received the Surgeon General’s Medallion, the highest award of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Herbert K. Abrams, MD, founder of El Rio Health Center in Tucson and the first director of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UA College of Medicine, received the award July 1, eight days before passing away of leukemia. Dr. Abrams received the award in his home, surrounded by family and friends, while Dr. Richard Carmona, U.S. Surgeon General, called long distance to "present" the award to him. (Pictured above are Dr. Abrams with the medallion, his daughters, Ellen and Linda, and his wife, Sophia.)

Augusto "Gus" Ortiz, MD, who has dedicated more than five decades of his life to bringing health care to the poor and underserved in Arizona, was honored with U.S. Surgeon General Medallion in his home July 19.

Dr. Carmona made a "home visit" in person to place the medallion around Dr. Ortiz's neck. The presentation was witnessed by friends, family and reporters. (Pictured are Martha Ortiz, Dr. Ortiz, and Dr. Carmona).

"These honors bestowed upon two of our best public heath mentors and colleagues illustrate a legacy achieved only through a persistent, life-long committment to meeting the health needs of the underserved," notes Dean G. Marie Swanson.

The medal is awarded in the name of the U.S. Surgeon General for actions of exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine.