Announcing the Inaugural Social Health Awards Finalists

This year has brought so many exciting changes – from the launch of the Social Health Network to the inaugural Social Health Awards (previously the WEGO Health Awards).

While the name may have undergone a rebrand, our hope of recognizing and honoring the thousands of patients and caregivers supporting the online health community remains the same. Our patient leaders constantly amaze us through their unique advocacy efforts. Supporting fellow patients and caregivers with the tools they need to be the best version of themselves is worth celebrating!

We are thrilled to recognize so many incredible patient leaders over the years, but what’s even more special is to witness the growth that has taken place within the patient leader community over the past decade. The passion that the thousands of our patient leaders, warriors, survivors, advocates, and influencers have is immeasurable.

We encourage you to check out all of this year’s nominees, which certainly made it tough for our panel of judges. They’re all truly amazing.

Determining the Finalists

The three most endorsed individuals in each award category automatically became finalists. Three additional finalists were selected through multiple rounds of judging by Social Health Network community members. Nominees were reviewed and scored based on their fit for the award category, their uses of social media, and their focus on sharing information and fostering engagement.

All finalists will be individually notified via email and sent next step communications.

Determining the Winners

During the first week of August, the 60 Social Health Awards finalists will be reviewed and scored by our finalist judging panel, comprised of industry professionals and experts, to ultimately uncover the ten inaugural Social Health Award winners!

Winners will be announced during our virtual conference, Connexion, on August 25 & invited to our in-person celebration at the Digital Pharma East Conference in Philadelphia, on October 19, 2022. Learn more about this year’s prize pack and ceremony.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for…


Lifetime Achievement

lifetime achievement award

Dr Christi Hibbert

Kristal Kent

Linda Urbanski

Matthew Zachary

Michael Holtz

My Life as an Asthma Mom

Social Health Award Description: Some patient leaders are true stars who continue to shine and don’t fit into just one category. The Lifetime Achievement Award is for the veteran patient leaders, who after years of advocacy achievements, stand as role models for the entire online health community. Let’s recognize the advocacy leaders that inspire all of us year after year!


Healthcare Collaborator

Healthcare Collaborator

Chisa Nosamiefan

Ella Balasa

Essence Johnson

Global Parents for Eczema Research

Jacobi Cleaver

Parkinson Diva

Social Health Award Description: The Healthcare Collaborator category is for the advocates bridging the gaps between industry stakeholders and healthcare consumers. Whether speaking at conferences, consulting with healthcare companies, or using their experience to help make change in the healthcare industry, these patient leaders are impacting the healthcare landscape at large.


Community Cultivator

Community Cultivator

April Stearns | WILDFIRE Magazine

Kathy Reagan Young

Kristen Hernandez

Marie Dagenais-Lewis

Natalie Hayden

Sydney Marshburn

Social Health Award Description: A diagnosis can be life-changing, but fortunately so can the support from an online community. The Community Cultivator category celebrates the online communities or forums that create an inviting space for newcomers while maintaining a safe place that people have come to respect and rely on. Whether through online support groups, live events or forum discussions – these leaders have mastered managing, moderating, and engaging their communities all for the purpose of supporting others.


Advocacy Trailblazer

Advocacy Trailblazer

Frank Rivera

Melissa Talwar (Support Fibromyalgia)

Paula Sojo

RARE

Rare Candace

Tiffany Kairos

Social Health Award Description: The Advocacy Trailblazer category celebrates the patients and caregivers who, despite managing a health condition, manage to push the limits and pave a new path for others on how to educate, raise awareness, and support their fellow community. These are the individuals bringing innovation to advocacy.


Social Media Master

Social Media Master

Allison Tennyson

Emma Cooksey

Michaela Davert (FunsizedStyle)

Mrs AP Young

Nikki Drenth Louiselle

The Invisible Hypothyroidism

Social Health Award Description: Whether posting to Instagram, hosting Facebook Lives or stitching the latest TikTok trend, the Social Media Master category recognizes the patients and caregivers leveraging social platforms for advocacy. This individual is sharing their story and fostering community through the use of many or multiple social media channels.


Creative Contributor

Creative Contributor

Achy Smile | Erica Carrasco

Adriane Dellorco

Amy Grantham

Bob McEachern

Lisa Marie Basile

Tiffany Kairos

Social Health Award Description: There are so many avenues when it comes to patient advocacy. The Creative Contributor category recognizes the individuals taking a creative approach to raising awareness. Think about patient leaders transforming their advocacy into clothing, cards, jewelry shops, comic creation and more! This category celebrates those bringing advocacy to the marketplace.


Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Chaz Hayden

Frances McInerney

Jackie English

Jennifer Oramas

Jill King

Sydney Marshburn

Social Health Award Description: As anyone in advocacy knows, communities aren’t built overnight! Sharing your story and impacting a community takes time and patience, so let’s encourage those who are recently empowered as patient leaders. The Rookie of the Year category celebrates the advocates who may be new to the scene, but continue to show the utmost potential. This category is typically for patient leaders with 1-3 years’ experience.


Best Team

Best Team

Angels of Epilepsy Charity & Advocacy

Fibromyalgia Care Society of America

Jason and Maye Jepson

RARE

Run A Myelin My Shoes

Students with Disabilities Advocacy Group at Georgia Southern University

Social Health Award Description: The Best Team category recognizes a team or group that takes their activism to new heights because of the assistance from one another. Whether it be a group that runs an online chat, a non-profit organization, or a caregiver and patient duo – this award celebrates those bringing a team effort to their advocacy!


Revolutionary Researcher

Revolutionary Researcher

Aaron Blocker

Bob McEachern

Chisa Nosamiefan

Kristal Kent

Lisa Marie Basile

Madison Vital

Social Health Award Description: The category aims to celebrate the patients and caregivers who refuse to let medical jargon and data slow them down! The winner of the Revolutionary Researcher category stays up-to-date on the latest research, treatments, and clinical trials. This patient leader has a knack for transforming complex information into layman terms for the greater community to act on.


Caregiving Champion

Caregiving Champion

Effie Parks

Elle Cole

Jamil Ayinla

Joel Hughes

Roberta Carson

Tonya Henry

Social Health Award Description: Not all patient leaders are sharing their own patient journey. The Caregiving Champion category is for the caregivers who tirelessly raise awareness to better the lives of loved ones. Though they themselves may not be sick, they are the caregivers of children, siblings, parents, significant others, or friends, that have an up-close-and-personal perspective that is invaluable.

Give yourself a round of applause!

Congratulations to all of our finalists and nominees! A nomination means you’ve made an impact in someone’s life and that’s the biggest win of all. With the help of all of you, we’re closer to changing the patient journey than ever before. Thank you for sharing your story, using your voice, and uplifting your community members. Cheers to the patient voice!

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