The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recognized
Cigna Medical Group’s Dr. Andrea Houfek with the CDC Childhood
Immunization Champion Award. This is an annual award that honors
individuals who make a significant contribution toward improving public
health through their work in childhood immunization. Each year, one CDC
Immunization Champion from each of the 50 states and the District of
Columbia receives the prestigious award.
Houfek, who is Cigna Medical Group’s Medical Director of Urgent Care
Services and Pediatrics, received the honor at The Arizona Partnership
for Immunization (TAPI) annual Dr. Daniel T. Cloud Outstanding Practice
Awards, held in conjunction with Infant Immunization Week, April 20 to
27.
"The best way to guarantee a long and healthy life is to ensure children
receive the appropriate preventive care right from the start.
Immunizations are vital to pediatric and long-term health and one of the
best ways to protect individuals, families and communities against
disease,” said Dr. Houfek. “It is an honor to be recognized and for our
centers to receive recognition once again for their diligent efforts to
immunize toddlers and teens.”
Several Cigna Medical Group health centers were also recognized during
the ceremony for leadership and excellence in immunizing Arizona
children - reaching 90 percent coverage levels in the toddler and teen
categories.
The Chandler, Deer Valley, South Mountain, and Stapley health care
centers were recognized in the toddler category.
Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and Tempe health care centers were
recognized in the teen category.
This is the 10th year that Cigna Medical Group has been
recognized for outstanding achievements in immunizing children and
teenagers.
Media interested in interviewing physicians regarding the importance of
immunizations, the myths and the facts, please contact Rainey Daye
Holloway to set up interviews.
About The Arizona Partnership for Immunization
TAPI is a non-profit statewide coalition of over 400 members. TAPI was
formed in response to the alarming fact that in 1993, only 43% of
Arizona's two-year-olds were fully immunized against preventable
childhood diseases like measles, mumps, polio and whooping cough.
Through the efforts of TAPI's partners from both the public and private
sectors, immunization coverage rates in Arizona have improved
dramatically, with nearly three in four children fully immunized by age
two. Unfortunately, the problem never ends. Each year in Arizona almost
90,000 babies are born, and none arrive immunized.
For more information, visit www.whyimmunize.org.
About Cigna Medical Group
Cigna Medical Group is the group practice division of Cigna HealthCare
of Arizona, Inc. and one of the Valley's largest multi-specialty group
practices with 23 health care centers and two convenience care clinics
located throughout metropolitan Phoenix. Each health care center is
equipped with several medical services under one roof, so additional
diagnostic needs such as lab work, imaging—even prescriptions—can be
quickly obtained. To learn more about Cigna Medical Group, including a
virtual tour and to follow us on Twitter, visit www.cignamedicalgroup.com.
