Maria, a community health worker for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, has been selected as the Andy Lopez Memorial Award recipient for 2005. This Andy Lopez Award recognizes the most outstanding Allied Health Professional in California's Tuberculosis community. Maria is a ten-year employee of the Health Services Agency.

The sixth annual award and scholarship was presented at the 2005 California Tuberculosis Controllers Association statewide conference in Berkeley on May 12.

Excerpts from the applications for the award made on Maria’s behalf:

In regard to the TB case in a high school student in Modesto in February 2003 -
Maria developed “and maintained a close relationship with patient and mom throughout the prolonged and difficult course of treatment. Maria’s second major task in this difficult case was in the coordination a parent-student information session at the high school. She assured we had appropriate information in Spanish available, translated what we needed to, and was available at the meetings to ensure that Spanish speakers were appropriately informed. During the course of this large contact investigation Maria made hundreds of phone calls ensuring that we had accurate health histories of contacts detailing prior skin test and TB exposure. She was on the phone with parents, students, and physicians offices every week for over two years ensuring that each contact was afforded appropriate follow up and treatment.”

In regard to a TB clinic run on the west side of Stanislaus County:
“My final example has to do with a small outreach clinic in the rural community of Patterson. The TB program conducts an outreach clinic in this community once per month ensuring our patients

receive check-ups and medicines without interruption due to inadequate transportation and minimizing lost time from school for the children. Maria’s advocacy has ensured that we maintain this clinic when there were pressures to close it. Her advocacy involves building close relationships with patients as evidenced by a 95% on time clinic attendance rate, and a 98% completion of therapy rate for our patients at this clinic. I don’t believe there is another clinic more successful. It is successful because Maria Pasillas puts her soul into it.”

In regard to her personal character:
“While working full-time and juggling being a wife and mother of three, Maria has returned to school and recently received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Also she trained to be a Hospice volunteer and is making home visits to terminal patients. Just this week, Maria has begun a two-year journey to be accepted into a Master’s program to pursue a counseling degree and ultimately, licensure.”

What is the Andy Lopez Memorial Award & Scholarship?
Andy Lopez had a distinguished public health career in California for over 20 years. For over 12 years he worked directly with many local TB programs throughout the state. He had many years of field experience and extensive knowledge of local TB program issues. His untimely passing on Father's Day 1999 was felt deeply within the TB Control community.

To honor Andy's memory, recognize the contributions of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to tuberculosis control activities in California, and support ongoing training and education of AHPs, the Andy Lopez Memorial award and Scholarship will be awarded each year to one outstanding AHP working in TB control in California.

The sixth annual award and scholarship will be presented at the 2005 CTCA conference in Berkeley. The scholarship recipient will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2005 CTCA conference and the 2006 CTCA Conference.