Clinicians serving marginalized communities are stressed. Their work -- serving people who often have overlapping and complicated barriers to maintaining their health and accessing health care -- has always been very difficult and not well recognized. The added stress, uncertainty, and workload from COVID-19 have overwhelmed clinicians, many of whom feel unempowered and overworked. Yet, in a time defined by health inequities and limited health care access, the work of these clinicians is more critical than ever.

That’s why Migrant Clinicians Network developed the Kugel & Zuroweste Health Justice Award – to celebrate the hard work of clinicians that too often goes overlooked. Now in its second year, the Kugel & Zuroweste Health Justice Award is awarded to a clinician in their first five years of service, who has shown a passion for health justice. The award recipient will receive $1000 cash prize in addition to recognition through MCN’s networks.

The award is open to any active clinician. MCN defines “clinician” very widely, including all the members of the health care team, like community health workers, promotores, outreach workers, dental assistants, medical assistants, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and more. The nominee should be a clinician who:

• Demonstrates a significant commitment to health justice and contributes to the field of health justice. For example, they created a best practice or creative way to provide services to an underserved population such as agricultural workers or migrants in their community.
  
  
• Is a “rising star” — within their first five years of practice and has not yet received a major or national award.
  
  

We invite you to nominate a colleague or peer for the Kugel & Zuroweste Health Justice Award. Nominations are open through September 15th.  Those wishing to nominate someone should compose a brief essay (no longer than 850 words) explaining how their nominee not only meets the criteria for the award, but also embodies the legacy of what the award stands for: courage, compassion, and health justice. These are the same qualities that make Candace Kugel and Ed Zuroweste “beacons for so many of us” in the devoted pursuit of health justice, explains Karen Mountain, MCN’s Chief Executive Officer. “Their legacy, through the Kugel & Zuroweste Award, is to acknowledge and celebrate these leaders early in their careers and to engage with them in our mutual passion to help.” The winner will be determined by a panel of MCN advisors and announced in November 2021.

Completed nomination essays should be sent to mcn@migrantclinician.org by September 15th.

The winner will be selected by a panel of MCN representatives and announced in November, with a ceremony to follow in December.

Read more about the Kugel & Zuroweste Award, including more on 2020’s winner, and profiles of Candace Kugel and Ed Zuroweste, at our Kugel & Zuroweste Award page.

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