Alaska Dentist honored with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Community Health Leader Award

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Presents 2009 Community Health Leader Award to Dr. Amanda Gaynor Ashley for improving the oral health of Barrow's residents

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced its selection of Amanda Gaynor Ashley, D.M.D., Ms.Edu., director of the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic in Barrow, Alaska, to receive a Community Health Leaders Award. She is one of 10 extraordinary Americans who will receive the RWJF honor for 2009 at a ceremony this evening at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Ashley brought new life to an oral health clinic in Alaska's remote North Slope Borough area. She is also being honored for her work to improve the oral health of the North Slope Borough community by creating a program, with the Ilisagvik Tribal College, to train dental assistants, and her work to provide onsite dental care at area elementary schools.

"When Dr. Ashley arrived at her clinic, one out of every three children was having teeth extracted due to poor oral health. Dr. Ashley's leadership has quite literally transformed the oral health of an entire community," said Janice Ford Griffin, national program director for the award.

Ashley says that a training program she developed for local residents to work in the clinic was instrumental in changing the clinic into a real community center.

"This award is a tremendous honor, and it is one I share with everyone at the clinic. The strong leadership at the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital has been so supportive of our efforts," said Ashley. "As the nation debates health care reform, I hope this will help to bring attention to the importance of oral health and the connection between our teeth and the entire body. If we don't have healthy teeth, we can't eat properly, and that can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease."

Arnold Brower, Jr., North Slope Borough School District Board Chair, said that he has seen "firsthand the tremendous positive impact Dr. Ashley has made on oral health in our region." He added that the dental assistant training program has "opened the door for many of our young people to enter the health care field without leaving Barrow for training."

The Community Health Leaders Award honors exceptional men and women from all over the country who overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities and the nation. The award elevates the work of the leaders by raising awareness of their extraordinary contributions through national visibility, a $125,000 award and networking opportunities. This year the Foundation received 532 nominations from across the United States and selected 10 outstanding individuals who have worked to improve health conditions in their communities with exceptional creativity, courage and commitment.

There are nine other 2009 Community Health Leaders in addition to Ashley. Their work includes self-directed care for persons with physical disabilities; a marriage between health care and legal aid; a mentoring program to help disadvantaged youth pursue health careers; care for victims of torture; an innovative approach to combat obesity; culturally sensitive and appropriate health care for Cambodian-American immigrants; quality health care for Native American elders; family planning and health services for women, men and teens; and mental health services for the underserved.

Since 1993 the program has honored more than 160 Community Health Leaders in nearly every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Nominations can be submitted for the 2010 Community Health Leaders Award through October15, 2009. For details on how to submit a nomination, including eligibility requirements and selection criteria, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established the Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award to recognize individuals who overcome daunting obstacles to improve health and health care in their communities. Today, there are 173 outstanding Community Health Leaders in nearly all states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org.