Annual Awards List and Description
Public health professionals deserve recognition for their achievements. CPHA annually presents seven awards to public health practitioners and students to acknowledge contributions and support to the field of public health with an emphasis on the state of Connecticut. Awards are presented during the CPHA Annual Conference.
CEA Winslow Award: Celebrating leadership and achievement in practice, research, or education
The CEA Winslow Award is presented to a public health professional who has demonstrated leadership and achievement in practice, research, and/or education. The award commemorates Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (1877-1957), a pioneer in public health and medicine, who is credited with founding the second-oldest school of public health in the country at Yale University. Among the most widely-quoted health leaders of his time, Dr. Winslow believed that equal in weight with scientific ideas about health and disease was a commitment to social justice – that social ills must be first in the "conquest of epidemic disease.”
Ira V. Hiscock Award: Honoring the contributions of Connecticut citizens and organizations
The Ira V. Hiscock Award is presented annually to a Connecticut layperson who has made notable contributions to the advancement of public health through public service, education, advocacy, and/or leadership, or to an organization that has made such contributions. Ira Hiscock was an internationally recognized epidemiologist and a public health professor at Yale University who inspired generations of students.
Charles G. Huntington III Award: Recognizing Public Health Leadership and Dedication in Connecticut Health Care Practitioners
The Charles G. Huntington III Award is presented annually to a Connecticut health care practitioner who has demonstrated public health leadership and a commitment to the health and well-being of the public. Charles Huntington was a leader, role model, dedicated humanist, steadfast public health advocate, and a caregiver of the first order. He was a leader in the physician assistant profession, led the Connecticut Public Health Association for many years, and at the time of his death, was Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
The Beth Weinstein Award: Recognizing Excellence and Dedication in Public Health Government Service
The Beth Weinstein Award is bestowed on an individual working in, or on behalf of, a local or state government agency who has demonstrated continued excellence, partnership, promise, or accomplishment, and/or dedication to the advancement of public health. He or she may work directly in public health or with a cross-sector partnership organization. Beth Weinstein, MPH, served Connecticut with the highest distinction as the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) AIDS Division Director, Preventable Disease Director, and Family Health Director for many years. As a consummate public health professional and a model practitioner of civil service, Beth set an example of excellence by collaborating with mutual respect with public policymakers, government agency staff at the local, state, and federal levels, members of the media, non-governmental organizations, and the public.
The Michael J. Perlin Student Award: Celebrating Leadership and Volunteerism in Public Health Students
The Michael J. Perlin Student Award recognizes a current graduate or undergraduate enrolled in an accredited public health program who demonstrates, through student activities and/or community service, a commitment to leadership, volunteerism, and the highest educational standards. At the time of his death, Perlin was Professor Emeritus of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University, where he had distinguished himself as a respected educator, colleague, and public health advocate. During his 41 years in education, he spent the majority of his time at SCSU as a Professor of Public Health. Perlin was known as an energetic and ingenious teacher who left an indelible mark on countless students. He was the 2009 recipient of the CEA. Winslow Award.
Indigenous Scholar Award: Supporting and Empowering Indigenous Students in Public Health
The Indigenous Scholar Award honors and supports Indigenous students pursuing degrees in public health or allied fields. Inspired by the Connecticut Public Health Association’s (CPHA) commitment to move beyond land acknowledgments and toward meaningful action, this annual award promotes rectification, representation, and workforce equity by empowering Indigenous scholars to pursue higher education and leadership in public health. Endowed and facilitated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the award provides financial support to one Indigenous student in Connecticut each year, recognizing both academic potential and a demonstrated commitment to community health and well-being. The award reflects CPHA’s goal to diversify the public health workforce and advance health equity for Indigenous peoples in Connecticut and beyond.
Outstanding Public Health Preceptor Award: celebrating excellence in practice education
The Outstanding Public Health Preceptor Award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring undergraduate or graduate public health students in Connecticut. Preceptors play a critical role in shaping a student’s educational journey and professional trajectory—offering not only supervision of internship or practicum experiences, but also serving as mentors, role models, and trusted guides. Outstanding preceptors provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that foster critical thinking and professional growth, helping students make connections between academic knowledge and real-world practice. This award recognizes a preceptor who has gone above and beyond in supporting student learning, modeling professional excellence, and inspiring the next generation of public health leaders.
