Saint Paul, Minnesota, November 16, 2011—The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is proud to announce that its executive director, Deborah Wexler, MD, has been selected as the honoree of the Every Child By Two Immunization Leadership Award. Every Child By Two (ECBT), founded by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and former First Lady of Arkansas Betty Bumpers, is dedicated to protecting all children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The winner of ECBT Immunization Leadership Award is an individual who exhibits consistent leadership at the national level with a demonstrated positive impact on the field of immunization.
Dr. Wexler was presented the award last month during ECBT's 20th anniversary gala in Washington, DC.
Dr. Wexler was recognized for her work as the founder and executive director of IAC. She started the nonprofit organization in 1991 when she left her medical practice out of concern for her patients who were becoming infected with measles during a major outbreak. Under Dr. Wexler's leadership, IAC has grown to be one of the nation's premier sources of immunization information for healthcare providers and their patients. In national vaccine policy, Dr. Wexler has served as a consultant on working groups of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and on external planning committees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Immunization Conferences, as well as other national immunization groups.
According to ECBT, "Dr. Wexler's innovative 'out of the box' thinking and tenacity make her the ideal candidate for the ECBT Leadership Award."
"The Immunization Action Coalition has long worked to provide the best immunization information to patients and parents, and I am delighted to be recognized for my part in this important work," said Dr. Wexler.
Edgar Marcuse, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and vaccine advocate, and Debbie McCune Davis, an Arizona state senator and program director of The Arizona Partnership were also honored.
About the Immunization Action Coalition
IAC's immunization educational tools have a strong impact on the education, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals throughout the nation, making IAC one of the most respected and relied-upon immunization organizations in the United States. IAC is also a direct source of immunization information for the public. IAC's two major websites receive more than 20,000 visits per day, and its email news service broadcasts weekly immunization updates to more than 45,000 opt-in subscribers.
Dr. Wexler is available for interviews about this award.
Contact:
Julie Murphy
julie@immunize.org
651-647-9009