Dupre honored as Public Health Champion by County of San Diego

The County of San Diego has an annual Public Health Champion recognition ceremony, and this year's ceremony April 10 included the presentation of a Public Health Champion Award to Fallbrook Healthcare District administrator Vi Dupre.

"It's a great honor," Dupre said.

Dupre was one of 16 recipients of a Public Health Champion Award during the ceremony at the County Administration Center.

"It was a recognition of a lot of people for a lot of work that they do," Dupre said. "It was great to be included on that list with other communities."

Dupre was accompanied by Fallbrook Healthcare District board president Stephen Abbott and vice-president Gordon Tinker, by her daughter, Tanja Bickel, and by Bickel's companion, James Donohoe. Dupre received the North Coastal Award.

"I was very honored," Dupre said.

Dupre noted that the award was in her name but was for programs the healthcare district provides. "Mine is the face that they see," she said. "It was accepted for the healthcare district."

The Live Well San Diego Public Health Champion awards recognize public and private partnerships and the ongoing collaboration to improve the overall health and wellness of the county's various populations. The awards are part of the county's Live Well San Diego initiative.

The Fallbrook Healthcare District's communications efforts and grant program encourage immunization, nutrition, exercise, healthy behavior, and other preventative activities. "Our programs support the Live Well standard," Dupre said.

Dupre's activities as the district administrator included heading the "Immunizations: Importance and Impact through a Lifetime" event which provided free flu shots and included a panel of local physicians who emphasized the importance of immunizations.

"Without the district being in support of the programs that we do this didn't happen," Dupre said.

Dupre was also cited during the Public Health Champion recognition for promoting community involvement and ensuring that local residents are a part of the district's decision-making processes.

"I work for and represent the district," Dupre said. "It's a reward that belongs to all of us in the Fallbrook Healthcare District."

The Public Health Champion awards are presented during National Public Health Week and were established 20 years ago to recognize the contributions to public health and to highlight important issues. "It's nice that we are recognized, but the work that others do is equally important," Dupre said. "We are one of many doing good things."

This year's National Public Health Week theme was "Healthiest Nation 2030: Let's Make America the Healthiest Nation in One Generation."

The award recognition also noted Dupre's involvement in North Coastal Public Health Nursing.

"It's the product of the people of this community, the board, and the volunteers that make it happen," Dupre said of her award.

"It belongs to the district and the people," Dupre said. "It belongs to all of Fallbrook Healthcare District."