Community Outreach
Ruth Rimmer, PhD
Maricopa Integrated Health System
Ruth Rimmer, director of psychosocial and prevention research for the Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center, has developed evidence-based prevention programs designed to improve delivery of scald, burn prevention, and fire safety education to children and families in Arizona. She has made a major contribution to the literature available regarding psychosocial problems that are related to burn injuries. She has written five fire prevention books and provided more than 80,000 books and fire safety flash cards in both English and Spanish to children and their families, reaching from Flagstaff to Nogales.
When Rimmer’s research revealed that 65 percent of the children admitted to the burn center were Hispanic, she conducted early morning, evening and weekend focus groups in Hispanic neighborhoods to gain a better understanding of the problem. She then incorporated her findings into prevention strategies.
Rimmer also volunteered to develop a comprehensive classroom burn prevention and fire safety course that meets Arizona standards. The curriculum – a 70-page program that Rimmer distributes to teachers on a CD during training – allows teachers to instruct students about life-saving injury prevention, while still meeting their classroom goals.
Finalist
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Every year, BCBSAZ supports many charities and organizations through contributions – BCBSAZ contributed more than $1 million to the Valley of the Sun United Way in 2011 – talents and resources of the company’s employees. Corporate giving is focused in the areas of arts and cultural programs; economic development and civic initiatives; youth and education; and health, wellness and human services initiatives. The Green Schoolhouse Series is a perfect example of how BCBSAZ gives back. As a sponsor of the green gardens and wellness classrooms, BCBSAZ hopes to positively impact students by replicating this program at more and more schools throughout Arizona.
Finalist
Arizona Institute for Breast Health (AIBH)
“What’s your insurance?” Not the first words you want to hear when you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. And AIBH, the only organization of its kind in the nation, is doing something about it. AIBH has a 20-member volunteer team of physicians and medical professionals whose specialties include breast radiology, breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, reconstructive surgery, and breast pathology. This team evaluates the best medical and surgical options for the preservation of a woman’s life, body and emotional well-being, and continued quality of her life. And they offer a second opinion – free of charge.
HCL Awards 2012 Winners & Finalists |
AZ Business Magazine March/April 2012 |
