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.
Past Award Winners
Cassandra Codes-Benjamin
Cassandra Codes-Benjamin is a transformative leader whose more than twenty-year career has strengthened maternal and child health, advanced health equity, and shaped policy and systems at the state and national level. her impact is deeply embedded across Delaware's maternal, child, and family health landscape. Her approach is grounded in the belief that maternal and child health outcomes cannot improve without directly addressing the structural inequities that shape families' experiences. She centers the voices of those most affected ensuring that policy, practice, and system design reflect real lived needs rather than assumptions.
Children & Families First (CFF)
Children & Families First (CFF) is a dynamic collaborative committed to helping children, families, and communities thrive. Guided by research showing that responsive, nurturing caregiving is essential to healthy development and lifelong potential, CFF invests in proven strategies that place families’ needs at the center. Through resources, support, and opportunities, CFF empowers parents and caregivers, strengthens families, and creates a lasting positive impact across the community.
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.
Erica Allen
Erica Allen, founder of the Do Care Doula Foundation and the Central Delaware Community Doula and Perinatal Educator Program, seeks to level the playing field for Black birthing families. Not only does Erica provide free doula training and an avenue for Black women to find a meaningful career in their local community, but her doulas also provide free pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care to their clients — thanks to grants, fundraising, and other money-generating efforts that allow these doulas to get paid while they provide free services.
Hispanic American Association of Delaware (HAAD)
HAAD’s commitment to promoting health equity extends beyond providing basic services. The organization actively addresses the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities. Through tailored programs, collaborative partnerships, data-driven approaches, and community engagement, HAAD demonstrates their dedication to eliminating disparities and creating a more equitable health care system for the Hispanic community in Delaware.
Mona Liza Hamlin, MSN, RN, Christiana Care
As a nurse, Mona Liza Hamlin is a health care champion who works tirelessly to improve the lives of her patients. Where she sees a need, she works to fill it. To help Delaware moms and babies thrive, Mona has forged partnerships to develop the Birth Companion Doula program as well as a diverse lactation staff and a pump closet. She has also helped with Christiana Cribs for Kids distribution and breastfeeding longevity improvement.
Black Mothers in Power
This grassroots organization works to eradicate racial health disparities for Black birthing people and Black babies throughout Delaware. Led by its members, Black Mothers in Power holds diaper drives and other community events, does advocacy work, and seeks to improve practices like doula training and reimbursement so that women and children in need are connected with direct support.
Delaware State Representative Melissa Minor-Brown, for her staunch advocacy for vulnerable women and children in Delaware — including addressing disparities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Westside Family Healthcare, for their work to provide integrated primary medical, oral, and behavioral health services to more than 28,000 Delawareans.
Planned Parenthood of Delaware, for their work to improve health outcomes across the state, including increasing access to prenatal care as well as reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Shane Darby with Black Mothers in Power, for her work to raise awareness, provide educational programming, and advocate for legislation to address racial inequity among mothers in her community.
Delaware Community Legal Aid Society Inc., for their work to provide free legal services to vulnerable populations to help them address the social determinants of their health.
Cecilia Lopez of La Red Health Center, for her hard work and dedication to her patients.
Mom’s House of Wilmington, for its work to empower single parents to complete their education.
Jessica Baxter, APRN, of Nanticoke Health Services, for her passionate care of patients and ability to include them in their care management.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, for its work responding to the needs of Delawareans, including food, utility, and rent/mortgage assistance, and medical transportation.
Allen Conover of Rick VanStory Resource Center, for using his own mental health experience and desire to provide a peer-to-peer model to start the Rick VanStory Resource Center.
The Rick VanStory Resource Center, for its work with the homeless population with co-occurring disorders, ensuring access to care and resources.
Mona Liza Hamlin, MSN, RN, IBCLC, of Nemours Children’s Health System, and Stephanie Rogers, BS, BSN, RN, of Christiana Care Health System, for their work to reduce disparities in breastfeeding in Delaware.
Westside Family Healthcare, for their leadership in community health and dedication to providing access to quality health care services.
Mark-Anthony Umobi, MD, and Gail Smith, RN, BS, IBCLC, Lactation Program Coordinator.
Health Equity & Quality Services at Highmark Inc.
Dr. Deborah Ehrenthal, Christiana Care Health System, co-chair of the Health Equity Committee at Christiana Care Health System.
Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children — The Office of Health Equity and Inclusion embraces both internal Nemours and community partnerships to ensure the highest level of health care and respect for all of the pediatric patients, families, and communities that they serve.
Brian Olson, Executive Director, La Red Health Center in Georgetown, Seaford, and the Sussex Technical High School Wellness Center.
La Red Health Center — La Red Health Center’s mission is to be a Center of Excellence that provides quality patient-centered care to diverse community members.