New Mexico State University’s Department of Public Health Sciences recently held its ninth annual Public Health Heroes Awards ceremony to recognize individuals making significant contributions to public health. The event, led by Humaira Rahman, assistant professor of public health sciences, coincided with National Public Health Week in early April.
One of the honorees, Candyce Luna, an alumna of NMSU and an integrated operational support team manager at Holloman Air Force Base, was awarded the Individual Award for her work in building military health with innovative healthcare integration. Rahman praised Luna, stating, “Candyce is well-respected and successful in public health for our area. She received a promotion to manager as her group works very closely with the clinical staff.”
Melissa Limon, a surveillance epidemiologist at the New Mexico Office of Border Health, and the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program, received the Community Program Award for her outstanding contributions in binational work with Mexico. Rahman commended Limon for her dedication, saying, “Melissa is a seasoned border epidemiologist in the BIDS program who has her pulse on border issues to improve our border region.”
Dylan Pell, a mental health epidemiologist at the New Mexico Department of Health and an alumnus of NMSU, was honored with the Rising Star Award for his work as a rising leader in promoting healthier communities for mental health. Rahman highlighted Pell's contributions, stating, “Dylan’s work at NMDOH focuses on the State of Mental Health in New Mexico report, and he is a co-author of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report for New Mexico.”
The awards were presented in a ceremony at the New Mexico Department of Health office in Las Cruces. The event was attended by key figures in the Department of Public Health Sciences, including Becky Pearson, Cindy Kratzke, and Dean Yoshi Iwasaki of the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation.
For more information about the awards, individuals can contact Rahman at hrahman@nmsu.edu.