Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, alongside the Westchester County Board of Health, has honored two individuals and two nonprofit agencies with the 2025 Public Health Awards. The ceremony, aligned with National Public Health Week, showcased the significant contributions made towards maintaining and promoting public health in the region.

County Executive Ken Jenkins emphasized the impact these honorees have made:

"Today, we honor two individuals and two agencies whose work helps to save and extend the lives of Westchester residents, whether through preventing tobacco use or drowning or through the detection, prevention and treatment of cancer. I want to thank the dedicated staff of our Health Department, Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler, and the volunteers who serve on our Westchester County Board of Health, for their essential service to our community. With their extraordinary concern for others, these volunteers set an example for all of us. I congratulate the winners and encourage other residents to choose this path."

Dr. Robert Baker, President of the Board of Health, presented the Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Awards to the United Community Center of Westchester. This New Rochelle nonprofit was recognized for its efforts in tobacco and vaping prevention among youths and offering smoking cessation programs for adults.

Samantha Pfeffer, a senior at Edgemont High School, received the J.R. Tesone Youth Public Health Service Award. Pfeffer, driven by personal tragedy, has advocated fervently for drowning prevention, having taken over the Water Guardian Foundation in 2022:

"These honorees inspire us with their determination to improve the health and well-being of their fellow Westchester residents. We are proud to honor the United Community of Westchester, Samantha Pfeffer, Dr. Parul Shukla, and the Cancer Support Team. We hope other residents will step forward to collaborate with us to improve public health," Baker noted.

Jackie Agudelo, the founder and executive director of United Community Center of Westchester, expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the organization's evolution and its role in the community.

The Commissioner’s Award was given to Dr. Parul J. Shukla, a colorectal cancer surgeon with Phelps and Northern Westchester Hospitals – Northwell Health. Dr. Amler, Health Commissioner, lauded Dr. Shukla's commitment:

"I am grateful to Dr. Shukla for his dedication not only to compassionate care, but to sparking a collaboration with the County Health Department to prevent colorectal cancer deaths by improving public awareness of the importance of screening and increasing the rate of colorectal cancer screening."

The Cancer Support Team received the Special Recognition Award for its longstanding support of cancer patients. Tania Weiss, Executive Director, acknowledged the honor and the importance of their mission.

"It is truly an honor to accept this award on behalf of the entire team who work so hard to find ways of making the cancer journey a little easier. In addition, we appreciate our close relationship with the Department of Health. In giving this award to CST, you are helping us spread the word about our free services. The need for our services is great; yet so many do not know we are here to help," Weiss stated.