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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service Director's Awards

2018 Awardees

Pre-Ceremony

Pre-Ceremony - Podium
Pre-Ceremony - Daniel Echohawk, Damiana Mitchell, Karen Carter and Valerie Black
Pre-Ceremony - Event Signs
Pre-Ceremony - Event Program
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony with Recipients
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony with Recipients
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony with Recipients
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony with Recipients
Pre-Ceremony - Crystals and Coins
Pre-Ceremony - Length of Service Coins
Pre-Ceremony - Length of Service Coins
Pre-Ceremony - Crystals and Coins
Pre-Ceremony - Green Champion Awards
Pre-Ceremony - Award Crystals
Pre-Ceremony - Crystals and Coins
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony
Pre-Ceremony - Honor Guard
Pre-Ceremony - Honor Guard
Pre-Ceremony - Honor Guard
Pre-Ceremony - Pre-Ceremony
Pre-Ceremony - RADM Michael Weahkee and CDR Mizraim Mendoza
Pre-Ceremony - CDR Chistian Guess and RADM Michael Weahkee
Pre-Ceremony - 2018 Director's Awards Cake

Opening of Ceremony

Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - Honor Guard
Opening of Ceremony - RADM Brandon Taylor
Opening of Ceremony - RADM Michael Weahkee and Xavier Yazzie
Opening of Ceremony - RADM Michael Weahkee and RADM Brandon Taylor
Opening of Ceremony - RADM Brandon Taylor
Opening of Ceremony - Senior Leadership
Opening of Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Posting the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Posting the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Posting the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Posting the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Saluting the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Ending of Presentation of the Colors
Opening of Ceremony - Traditional Opening - Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss
Opening of Ceremony - Traditional Opening - Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss
Opening of Ceremony - Traditional Opening - Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss
Opening of Ceremony - Traditional Opening - Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss
Opening of Ceremony - Principal Deputy Director, Michael Weahkee Opening Remarks

HHS Green Champion Award

HHS Green Champion Award - Principal Deputy Director, Michael Weahkee Opening Remarks
HHS Green Champion Award - Patricia Jones and Gary Hartz

HHS Green Champion Award - Good Neighbor Team

HHS Green Champion Award - Good Neighbor Team - Timothy Eby on behalf of IHS Remote Monitoring Program (Alaska)

HHS Green Champion Award - Sustainable Design & Facilities Team

HHS Green Champion Award - Sustainable Design & Facilities Team - Greg McIntyre on behalf of IHS Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Lighting Renovation (Alaska)

HHS Green Champion Award - Wellness Award Team

HHS Green Champion Award - Wellness Award Team - LCDR Michael Shilhanek on behalf of IHS Healthy Native Food Coalition (Great Plains )

HHS Green Champion Award - Energy & Fleet Management Team

HHS Green Champion Award - Energy & Fleet Management Team - CDR Christian Guess on behalf of IHS Phoenix Indian Medical Center Utility Energy Service Contract (Phoenix)

Special Recognition: Urban Leadership Award

Special Recognition: Urban Leadership Award - Carmelita Skeeter, CEO of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (Oklahoma City)

Special Recognition: Tribal Leadership and Partnership Award

Special Recognition: Tribal Leadership and Partnership Award - Janice Clements (Portland)

Special Recognition

Special Recognition - Richard Gerry, Acting Area Director (Bemidji)
Special Recognition - Ann Church, Acting Director, Office of Finance and Accounting (Headquarters)
Special Recognition - Lisa Gyorda, Director, Office of Human Resources (Headquarters)
Special Recognition - Elizabeth Fowler (Oklahoma City)
Special Recognition - Dixie Gaikowski, Area Director (Tucson)
Special Recognition - RADM Kevin Meeks (Headquarters)
Special Recognition - RADM Kevin Meeks (Headquarters)

Fostering Relationships - Individual

Fostering Relationships - Individual - CDR Sherry Lulf (Great Plains )
Fostering Relationships - Individual - Miranda Williams (Navajo)
Fostering Relationships - Individual - Gary Russell-King (Navajo)
Fostering Relationships - Individual - LCDR Kristie Purdy (Oklahoma City)
Fostering Relationships - Individual - Monte Yazzie (Phoenix )
Fostering Relationships - Individual - Sandra Patterson (Portland)

Fostering Relationships - Team

Fostering Relationships - Team - Kailee Fretland on behalf of Red Lake Hospital Pharmacy Department (Bemidji)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Toni LaFriniere on behalf of White Earth Federal Employees Association Committee (Bemidji)
Fostering Relationships - Team - LCDR Michael Shilhanek on behalf of IHS Healthy Native Food Coalition (Great Plains )
Fostering Relationships - Team - Mike Ginn on behalf of IHS Partnership Conference Office of OIT and ORAP (Headquarters)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Dr. Susy Postal on behalf Office of Information Technology New Medicare Card Project Team (Headquarters)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Jennifer Cooper on behalf of IHS Tribal Self Governance Program (Headquarters)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Cara Lowder on behalf of Choctaw Nation Health Services Quality Department (Oklahoma City)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Joy Standridge on behalf Chickasaw Nation Packed Promise Team (Oklahoma City)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Ophellia Watahomigie-Corliss on behalf of Supai Behavioral Health Interagency Collaborative (Phoenix)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Candace Lee on Phoenix Indian Medical Center Executive Nurse Leadership Team (Phoenix)
Fostering Relationships - Team - Katie Russell, RN on behalf of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and IHS Ambulatory Care Clinic (Portland)

Director's Award - Individual

Director's Award - Individual - CDR Shad Schoppert (Alaska)
Director's Award - Individual - Dr. Freddy Kaniki (Alaska)
Director's Award - Individual - Paula Poncho (Alaska)
Director's Award - Individual - LCDR Dena Smith (Bemidji)
Director's Award - Individual - Torrey Darkenwald (Billings)
Director's Award - Individual - Valerie Canfield (California)
Director's Award - Individual - Kelly Stephenson (California)
Director's Award - Individual - CDR Barbara Asher (Great Plains )
Director's Award - Individual - LCDR Michael Shilhanek (Great Plains )
Director's Award - Individual - Jennifer Fry (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Individual - Dr. Paul Fowler (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Individual - Dr. Susy Postal (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Individual - Karen Matthews (Nashville)
Director's Award - Individual - Denise Odegaard (Nashville)
Director's Award - Individual - Ksenija Topic (Navajo)
Director's Award - Individual - CAPT Greggory Woitte (Oklahoma City)
Director's Award - Individual - Carla Despain (Oklahoma City)
Director's Award - Individual - Melissa Gower (Oklahoma City)
Director's Award - Individual - Asha Petoskey (Portland)
Director's Award - Individual - Teresa Martinez, ARNP (Portland)
Director's Award - Individual - Dr. Philippe Champagne (Portland)
- Booklet

Director's Award - Team

Director's Award - Team - Vivian Echavarria on behalf of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Leadership Consultative Team (Alaska)
Director's Award - Team - Verlee White Calf-Sayler on behalf of Santa Fe Service unit Safety First! Saftey Culture Development Program (Albuquerque)
Director's Award - Team - Jamie Olsen on behalf of Red Lake Radiology Mammography Team (Bemidji)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Cynthia Gunderson on behalf of Red Lake Revenue Enhancement Team (Bemidji)
Director's Award - Team - Desiree Bell on behalf of Billings Area Quality Managers Team (Billings)
- Candid Photo

Director's Award - Team

Director's Award - Team - Molly Steen on behalf of Belcourt Service Unit Pharmacy Department (Great Plains )
Director's Award - Team - Kateri Gachupin on behalf of Office of Urban Indian Health Programs (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Kevin Brooks on behalf of Coordinators of the IHS Pharmacy Leadership Training Program (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - RADM Francis Frazier on behalf of the IHS Strategic Plan Workgroup (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Cynthia Gunderson on behalf of the IHS National Committee on Heroin, Opioids and Pain Efforts (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Michelle Ruslavage on behalf of OIT Promoting Interoperability Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - Peter Choi on behalf of the HQ Information Systems Security Officers Team (Headquarters)
Director's Award - Team - Eric Ritchie, M.D. on behalf of American Indian Medical Home Workgroup (Navajo)
Director's Award - Team - Jennifer Gorman on behalf of Ni'hi Dine Ba Wellness Department Leadership Team (Navajo)
Director's Award - Team - Kristie Rivera on behalf of Lawton Indian Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program (Oklahoma City)
Director's Award - Team - Amber McQuerry on behalf of National Supply Service Center Emergency Response Team (Oklahoma City)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Heather Huentelman on behalf of Phoenix Indian Medical Center HIV Center of Excellence (Phoenix )
Director's Award - Team - Jennifer Michener, M.D. on behalf of Whiteriver Hospital Primary Care Medical Home - Achieving Superb Access (Phoenix)
Director's Award - Team - John Stephens on behalf of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Didgwalic Wellness Center Team (Portland)
Director's Award - Team - CAPT Marcus Martinez on behalf of Wellpinit Service Unit Pharmacy Department (Portland)
Director's Award - Team - CDR Adam Hudhes on behalf of Sanitation Facilities Construction (Tucson)

Commissioned Corps Distinguished Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Distinguished Service Medal - CAPT David McMahon

Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal - CAPT Nancy Bill
Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal - CAPT Jeffrey Richardson

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Praveen K.C.
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Molly Rutledge
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CAPT Barbara Cohn
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - RADM Francis Frazier
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Glenn Foster
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CAPT Kelly Battese
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Julie Erb-Alvarez
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Kristie Purdy
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Karsten Smith
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LT Steven Owens

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal with Valor

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal with Valor - CDR Mizraim Mendoza

Length of Service - 40 years

Length of Service - 40 years - Mary Wall (Billings)
Length of Service - 40 years - Robert Curley (Navajo)

Length of Service - 45 years

Length of Service - 45 years - Annie Silversmith (Phoenix)

Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation

Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - Principal Deputy Director, Michael Weahkee
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - Booklet
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - Kecia Reyes presenting Luana Reyes Leadership Award
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - CAPT Laura Herbison and Kecia Reyes
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - CAPT Laura Herbison
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - CAPT Laura Herbison
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - Kecia Reyes Presentation of Luana Leadership Award
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - CAPT Laura Herbison
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - Luana Reyes Leadership Award
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - RADM Michael Weahkee, CAPT Laura Herbison and Kecia Reyes
Luana Reyes Leadership Award Presentation - RADM Michael Weahkee, CAPT Laura Herbison and Kecia Reyes

Reception

Reception - Unknown, Joy Standridge, and RADM Kevin Meeks
Reception - IHS Area Directors
Reception - IHS Area Directors
Reception - Beverly Cotton, Karen Matthews and RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - Whiteriver Hospital Primary Care Medical Home - Achieving Superb Access team with RADM Ty Reidhead and RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - RADM Michael Weahkee, LCDR Michael Shilhanek, James Driving Hawk and Mark Calkins
Reception - P. Benjamin Smith, Ann Church and RADM Chris Buchanan
Reception - CDR Barbara Asher and Unknown
Reception - Kecia Reyes and Gary Hartz
Reception - CAPT Cynthia Gunderson, Jamie Olsen, Richard Gerry and Kailee Fretland
Reception - Candid Photo
Reception - Dr. Susy Postal, unknown, Mitchell Thornbrugh, CAPT Michelle Ruslavage, unknown,  Janice Chase, Leslie White
Reception - Bemidji Area Recipients with Richard Gerry
Reception - Navajo Area recipients with CAPT Brian Johnson and RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - Candid Photo
Reception - Billings Area Quality Managers Team
Reception - CDR Adam Hughes
Reception - Mitchell Thornbrugh, Dr. Susy Postal, unknown in the middle, RADM Michael Weahkee, RADM Brandon Taylor
Reception - Bemidji Area Recipients with RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - Torrey Darkenwald and RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - Torrey Darkenwald and RADM Michael Weahkee
Reception - Carmelita Skeeter and RADM Kevin Meeks
Reception - Carmelita Skeeter and RADM Kevin Meeks
Reception - Lisa Gyorda and Family
Reception - CAPT Michelle Ruslavage and Dr. Susy Postal
Reception - Alaska Recipients