DHMIC
What is a Health Equity Award?
Awardees support community-led, place-based initiatives and shift the impact of social determinants of health tied to the root causes of infant mortality: poverty, racism, health access, food insecurity, housing, and having a good education and a good job, all of which affect mothers and children. This award is given annually to an individual and an organization.
Nominate
Help us say thanks!
Any community member can nominate someone for a Health Equity Award. Nominations and award submissions are completely free, and open once a year.
The 2025 nominations are now closed. Be on the look-out for who is selected this year at this year’s annual summit!
Kitty Esterly, MD, Health Equity Champion Award
Each year at the Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Annual Summit, DHMIC honors an individual or organization that works hard for the well-being of mothers, children, and families in Delaware, in a way that advances health equity. And this year, equity gaps have been significantly magnified, so this work is especially vital. Do you know an individual or organization that has pivoted during this time to go that extra mile to put better health within reach for Delawareans, regardless of race, income, or social status?
“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health, such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.”
The award is named in honor of Delaware’s first neonatologist, Dr. Kitty Esterly, whose work has undoubtedly improved the health of women and children in the First State. Dr. Esterly was an active voice, a champion, and an advocate on behalf of women, infants, and children. With her “can do” spirit, she worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone had a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. It was the cornerstone of her amazing practice and her commitment to Delaware’s community for nearly six decades. Dr. Esterly served on the boards of several organizations, including DHMIC’s executive committee. She also served as chair of the Delaware Perinatal Board. The recipient of this prestigious award will model the same commitment and dedication to promoting health equity that Dr. Esterly steadfastly displayed throughout her career.
DHMIC is committed to making sure that every mother and every child — and the men in their lives — has a fair chance for good health. The 2025 Kitty Esterly, MD, Health Equity Champion Award competition is now open!
Past Award Winners
Shawnisha Thomas
Shawnisha Thomas, therapist, advocate, and founder of her own practice, works tirelessly to expand access to trauma-informed mental health care for girls and women across Delaware. Through grant-funded efforts like Project THRIVE and a partnership with Christina Cultural Arts Center; the Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc. (DAPI); and the Delaware Department of Education, she offers free counseling to underserved youth. A former teen parent and author of a children’s book, Shawnisha leads with empathy, lived experience, and a fierce commitment to equity.
Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc. (DAPI)
The Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc. (DAPI) champions pregnant and parenting teens across Delaware through education, on-site childcare, health access, and life-skills training. Focused on communities with the greatest disparities, including HWHB high-risk zones, DAPI addresses the social and structural challenges that put young families at risk — promoting equity, empowering teen parents, and breaking cycles of poverty and poor health through culturally responsive, family-centered care.