Kaiser Permanente Honors 2025 Community Service Award Recipients
Kaiser Permanente has announced the recipients of its 2025 David Lawrence Community Service Award, honoring a team and 15 individual employees for their significant contributions to community service both locally and internationally. This award, named after former Kaiser Permanente Chair and CEO David Lawrence, MD, underscores the organization's dedication to community health initiatives.
Recipients receive monetary awards to support nonprofit organizations. Individual honorees and small groups receive $10,000, while teams of four or more are awarded $25,000. This year's awardees exemplify Kaiser Permanente's commitment to healthcare access and community service.
Remarkable Contributions in Healthcare and Community Support
Dr. Rosemary Agostini has made significant strides through educational volunteering and community wellness initiatives. Her Walk and Talk program enhances patient interactions with healthcare professionals. Similarly, Dr. Dennis Andrade's organization of over 30 global medical missions demonstrates his dedication to providing healthcare education and services to people with chronic conditions, including organizing health fairs for seasonal farmworkers in San Diego.
Nina Baker, MD, actively supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, focusing on improving healthcare access and environmental protection. Meanwhile, Dr. Ryan Brown co-founded Healing the Children Rocky Mountains, a nonprofit providing essential medical services like cleft palate surgeries to children in Peru.
Empowering Communities Globally
Caroline Conduah's efforts through the Alliance of Hope Foundation emphasize supporting individuals without housing and raising funds for hospitals in Ghana. Onika Davis has developed critical childbirth and newborn care training programs, significantly reducing infant mortality in the Caribbean and aiding Skid Row residents in Los Angeles.
Naseem Ghazanfari, MD, volunteers at Safe Harbor Free Clinic, aiding uninsured individuals, and founded an institute to advocate for immigrant women. Dr. Barnali Gupta's establishment of the Rocklin Science Academy in India opens educational doors for female students in English and science fields.
Community Service and Healthcare Initiatives
A group of physicians, including Gale Prentis, MD, and Gina Keller, MD, volunteer with Special Olympics Hawaii, providing health screenings and care for individuals with disabilities. Their model inspires similar initiatives elsewhere. Naomi Nyarko-Kusi, co-founder of the Alliance of Hope Foundation, supports Ghanaian orphanages and assists Georgia-based organizations like Medi-Share.
Sami Lababidi, DO, actively participates with Mending Faces, offering transformative surgeries for children with facial deformities. Dr. Mahvash Mujahid works with Adams Compassionate Healthcare Network to support uninsured patients with chronic health conditions. Elijah Pahl, a licensed clinical social worker, aids foster youth and individuals battling addiction, contributing to housing initiatives.
Nicole Perelman founded Inclusive Acres Boulder County, creating environments for neurodivergent children. Stacey Peto supports veterans with PTSD and disabilities, establishing relaxation spaces in schools. Dr. Tya Ping has enhanced park facilities and helped establish the Flip Children’s Museum, promoting educational and artistic engagement for children. These dedicated individuals mirror the core values of Kaiser Permanente in fostering healthcare access and community involvement.