Celebration of Excellence Honors UICOMP Faculty and Community Health Award Winners
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria presented its 2022 Community Health Awards during its annual Celebration of Excellence faculty recognition event November 3. The awards started in 1995 to honor individuals and organizations who promote community health in central Illinois. Annually, UICOMP presents two awards – one to an individual and another one to a group or organization.
Francesca Armmer (center) was recipient of the 2022 Community Health Award presented by the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Armmer was recognized for her role as a nurse educator and a community health advocate. Presenting the award is Steve Thompson with the UICOMP Community Health Award selection committee and UICOMP Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer.
The 2022 Community Health Award individual winner is Francesca Armmer, BSN, MSN, PhD, nursing educator and community health advocate. Dr. Armmer was a 31-year nursing faculty member and former Chair of the College of Nursing at Bradley University where she contributed to the education and training of hundreds of nurses. She has led a multitude of community health screenings, health fairs and education sessions, and has been a devoted public servant through her role on the Peoria City/County Health Department, including serving as board chair. In addition, she has volunteered extensively as a member of Peoria Circle of Promise, a minority breast health advisory group that works to erase breast cancer disparities in the African American community. She also has served as president of the Illinois Association of Colleges of Nursing and served as co-chair of the Health and Human Services Sub-Committee for the Mayor’s Peoria City/County Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity.
Kate Green (center) of Home for All Continuum of Care accepted the 2022 Community Health Award presented by the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Home for All was recognized for its role of addressing the needs for the individuals and families who experience homelessness in central Illinois. Presenting the award is Steve Thompson with the UICOMP Community Health Award selection committee and UICOMP Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer.
The 2022 Community Health Award group winner is Home for All Continuum of Care that has worked diligently with partner agencies to reduce homelessness by 25 percent since 2015. Home for All partners with Heart of Illinois United Way to build a collaboration of more than 50 organizations that align to end homelessness in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and Fulton counties. The accomplishment has been possible through the collaborative approach to addressing the community’s most vulnerable first. With a rapid approach to rehousing individuals and families through permanent housing opportunities. While the national average length of homeless nears 200 days; Home for All achieved an average of 55 days in FY21, favorably exceeding the national average.
Throughout the pandemic, the Home for All stepped up to meet the needs of the homeless population – such as onsite testing at shelters and congregate facilities, alternate housing for COVID positive and highly vulnerable populations, and vaccine deployment that was incentivized and easily accessible for all sheltered and unsheltered populations. They offer a year-round winterized mobile hygiene unit featuring restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities.The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) educates 265 medical students and more than 300 physician residents and fellows annually. Additionally, it provides clinical care to more than 45,000 patients annually and conducts basic science, clinical and outcomes research. The College of Medicine is home to the Cancer Research Center, Center for Wellbeing, and is a collaborator in Jump Simulation.FACULTY APPRECIATION BOOKVIEW EVENT PHOTO GALLERY