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Order Duplicate Awards HERE by June 13, 2025

May 16, 2025

El Adobe de Capistrano

11:30 am - 2:30 pm



Letter from Our Co-Presidents


A Letter from Our Co-Presidents:             James Chisum and Jody Schneider

We are pleased to have once again, broken our record for the number of Finest Award submissions received and we look forward to celebrating with all of you today! While more submissions might mean a tougher and more competitive process for those hoping to win a Finest Award, it also makes the winning that much more special and deserved. We credit this achievement to the hard work of our Board of Directors who have worked for months during their limited "free time" to lay the groundwork for a successful event. We recognize that serving on the Board of Directors is a voluntary position that oftentimes takes us away from our work and personal commitments and we appreciate everyone who has devoted themselves to ensuring that the Health Care Communicators of Southern California (HCCSC) is a strong and engaging organization to be a part of.

Our Board is fully committed to nurturing and growing HCCSC. We are all passionate about our mission of helping communicators and marketers fine-tune their professional skills and stay current with the ever-changing challenges of working in health care, health IT, life sciences, and other related fields.

The Finest Awards presents the perfect opportunity for us to advance communications in health care by convening representatives from health care organizations throughout Southern California to show off their talents and unique approaches to successful campaigns. Ranging from public relations and advertising, to community relations and marketing analytics, the Finest Awards showcases and recognizes the best of the best in health care communications, and we are proud to be a part of this.

We’d like to heartily congratulate today’s winners, and importantly, thank this year’s sponsors for their support of our organization, without whom we would not be where we are today.

Finally, we'd like to thank ABC's veteran health reporter, Denise Dador, for making the long journey down here to help us in acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of this year's winners.

If you are not yet a member, we strongly encourage you to consider joining. Our team has already scheduled a series of interesting and informative events designed to promote networking, education, and fun for everyone involved, and you won't want to miss out!

Thank you so much for your support and we hope you enjoy this year’s Finest Awards!



2025 HCC & AMN Healthcare Scholarship Winners

Rene Pena

2025 AMN Healthcare/HCC Scholarship winner


Linh Truong

2025 AMN Healthcare/HCC Scholarship winner


Master of Ceremony

Denise Dador


Denise Dador is the Eyewitness News Health Specialist whose “Circle of Health” reports can be seen on ABC7 Eyewitness News at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Since joining ABC7 in 1998, Denise’s mission has been to help Southern Californians improve their lives with timely medical information and advice. Through her reports, L.A’s top medical experts become accessible and relatable. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, her stories played a pivotal role in helping Angelenos navigate their changing world. Besides volunteering to help groups that fund medical research and patient care, Denise also represents KABC in her work with various Asian Pacific Islander and Filipino- American community organizations.

Denise grew up in San Francisco. She attended Long Island University in Brooklyn and graduated from Mills College with a degree in communication. At WXYZ-TV in Detroit, she anchored the weekend news and hosted a weekly talk show. At KMPH in Fresno, she was the main anchor of their 10pm news.

Denise has received numerous journalism and community service awards including national recognition for her work with Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches. She received Emmy awards for News Feature Reporting and Outstanding Children’s Programming.

Outside of work, Denise is a wife and mother of a teen-aged son and daughter who both have big dreams. While she would like to say she is an avid runner or skier, streaming historical documentaries and period dramas has become her latest obsession.

This Year's Awards

We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Finest Awards competition has been a resounding success, with 125 remarkable entries from 24 diverse organizations. Each submission has showcased an extraordinary level of creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness, setting new benchmarks for success.

Participants have demonstrated exceptional talent across various categories, including advertising campaigns, website design, video production, event management, data analytics, and public relations. The ingenuity and dedication behind each entry have truly impressed us.

As we celebrate the achievements of all entrants, we want to emphasize that every participant is a winner. The effort and passion invested in your work deserves the highest commendation. You have all contributed to raising the bar for excellence, and for that, you should be immensely proud.

The Communicator of the Year award is the highest honor given each year in recognition of outstanding and successful health care professionals. Eligible nominees are individuals who consistently demonstrate excellence in health care communications through service to their organization and/or the health care industry as a whole. The COTY award is open to all professionals at any level, working in a marketing/communication capacity in health care or other health-related field in southern California. This includes professionals from public relations, marketing, advertising, health care or media professions.

Congratulations to the 2025 Finest Awards Winners!

Best of Show

Loma Linda University

  • Special Events - Single-Day Event or Observance
  • Careers in Public Health Event
  • Summer Clark

Best of Show

Maricich Health + CalOptima Health

  • Advertising - Direct Mail
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Best of Show

Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

  • Digital Marketing - ​Influencer Marketing
  • 2024 Influencer Marketing Campaign
  • Marissa Alaniz, Anna Spitz

Best of Show

Rady Children's Hospital San Diego

  • Writing - ​Bylined/Feature Article
  • A Family's Journey Through Kawasaki Disease
  • Megan Matthew

Communicator of the Year

Lisa O'Neill Hill, Director, External Communications

City of Hope Orange County


Advertising - Ad Campaign

Bronze

  • CalOptima Health
  • OneCare

Bronze

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Silver

  • Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
  • The Experts Are Asking Brand Campaign
  • Anna Spitz, Marissa Alaniz

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Gold

  • ·Ntooitive Digital
  • ·L.A. Care Medicare Plus Campaign

Advertising - Direct Mail

Silver

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Advertising - Multicultural Ad Campaign

Bronze

  • Loma Linda University
  • Loma Linda University’s Open House 2024
  • Wesley Erickson, Will Brown

Silver

  • CalOptima Health
  • OneCare

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Advertising - Online/Web

Bronze

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Nurses Month Recognition Campaign
  • Brandon Gomez

Silver

  • Scripps Health
  • Digital Health - Demand Gen
  • Rochelle Fine

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Advertising - Outdoor

Bronze

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Silver

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Advertising - Print

Silver

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Advertising - Radio

Bronze

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Silver

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Advertising – Television

Bronze

  • Rady Children’s Hospital
  • Light the Way
  • Shazia Amin, Irena Boostani

Silver

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Gold

  • Maricich Health + CalOptima Health
  • CalOptima Health PACE Program for Seniors

Analytics - Lifecycle Marketing

Gold

  • AMN Healthcare
  • GameOn! Physician Solutions
  • Jane So, Rich Xiao

Analytics - Market Research

Silver

  • Maricich Health
  • CalOptima Health Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign

Analytics - Predictive Modeling

Silver

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • One Portal Analytics
  • Tonya Muehr, Anthony Fisher

Digital Marketing - ​Influencer Marketing

Silver

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Passport Influencers
  • Courtney Lewis, Tucker Howe

Gold

  • Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
  • 2024 Influencer Marketing Campaign
  • Marissa Alaniz, Anna Spitz

Digital Marketing - ​Mobile Marketing

Silver

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Passport Auto-Submission
  • Tucker Howe

Digital Marketing - ​Search Engine Marketing

Gold

  • AMN Healthcare
  • One AMN
  • Katie Lattimer

Digital Marketing - ​Social Media

Bronze

  • Loma Linda University
  • School of Pharmacy - PharmD Digital Marketing
  • DonaJayne Potts

Silver

  • AMN Healthcare
  • SLP Full Disclosure Podcast TikTok
  • Breana Donnelly, Jonathan Danforth

Silver

  • UC San Diego Health
  • San Diego Police Department Officer’s Heroic Discharge
  • Marketing & Communications

Gold

  • CalOptima Health
  • OneCare Social Media

Digital Marketing - Email Campaign

Bronze

  • Loma Linda University
  • Open House Email Campaign
  • Kayla Jordan, Wesley Cheng

Silver

  • Rady Children's Hospital
  • Team Rady Bulletin
  • Kendall Brown

Digital Marketing - Website (Intranet or Internet)

Bronze

  • Scripps Health
  • Contact Us Webpage
  • Kelly Landy

Silver

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • Stronger Together
  • Digital Experience

Gold

  • Scripps Health
  • Make An Appointment Webpage
  • Rachel Johnson

Multi-Media - ​​Interactive Media

Bronze

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • Talking Hope
  • Darrin Godin, Dan Gebert

Silver

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • Evening Rounds: A Shoulder Expert With a Teacher's Heart
  • Kevin Ekvall, Joseph Osborne

Silver

  • Scripps Health
  • Embedded Doctor Finder
  • Marti Medina, Rachel Johnson

Gold

  • AMN Healthcare
  • Elevate Care Podcast
  • Katie Conti, Craig Premo

Multi-Media - ​​Video News Releases

Silver

  • Loma Linda University Children’s Health
  • Heart Transplant Patient Graduates at LLUCH
  • Linda Ha

Gold

  • Lifesharing
  • Mother Decorates Rose Parade Float in Memory of Late Son
  • Anne State

Multi-Media - ​Internal/External Video Programs

Bronze

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • Be Brave, Little One
  • Valerie Pichot, Benjamin Chase

Silver

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Health Care Home Runs: Security Agent Honored
  • Sandra Phillips, Kyle Dykes

Silver

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • Cancer Fashionista Closet Tour
  • OC Marketing & Communication

Gold

  • Loma Linda University Health
  • Car-T Party
  • Benjamin Chase




Off the Wall

Bronze

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Padres U.S. News & World Report Pre-Game Ceremony
  • Marketing & Communications Team

Silver

  • Scripps Health
  • Decision Trees for Open Scheduling
  • Marti Medina, Kelly Landy

Gold

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • Digital Signage - Screensavers
  • Kendall Brown
Public Relations - ​Community Relations

Gold

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • Pink is Powerful
  • Lisa O'Neill Hill

Public Relations - ​Crisis Communications

Bronze

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • Hope First in Huntington Beach
  • OC Marketing & Communications

Silver

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • Nurses Strike
  • Communications Team

Public Relations - ​Health & Wellness Advocacy

Bronze

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Bird Flu Awareness - Media Relations
  • Leslie Aquinde

Silver

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Eye Health During the Solar Eclipse
  • Leslie Aquinde

Silver

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Concussion Awareness Campaign
  • Annie Pierce

Public Relations - ​Overall Campaign

Bronze

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Healthcare Nurse Leaders Survey PR
  • Phil Miller

Silver

  • CalOptima Health
  • Medi-Cal Expansion

Silver

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • The Younger Face of Cancer
  • Lisa O'Neill Hill, Kelsey Dalton

Gold

  • Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
  • Celebrating 40 Years of Trauma Care
  • Providence South Division Communications Team, Jennifer Gonzalez

Public Relations - Internal Communications

Silver

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • Marathon Toward Day One
  • OC Marketing & Communications

Gold

  • Rady Children's Hospital
  • Labor Negotiations - Summer 2024
  • RCHSD Comms Team

Public Relations - Media Relations

Bronze

  • Ford Hutman Media
  • Highlander Health Launch
  • Rachel Hutman

Bronze

  • Lifesharing
  • TWO FAMILIES, ONE HEART
  • Anne State

Silver

  • Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
  • Fontana Lawsuit Media Coverage
  • Nichole Ramirez, Scatena Daniels Communications

Silver

  • Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
  • Substance Use Disorder Program Expands Services
  • Amber Brenneisen, Sandy Nesheiwat Rodriguez

Gold

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • The Younger Face of Cancer
  • Lisa O'Neill Hill, Kelsey Dalton

Publications, Collateral & Design - Giveaway Items

Bronze

  • Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
  • Nostalgic Giveaways with a Local Touch
  • Mel Lopez, Kylie Hunter

Gold

  • Loma Linda University
  • LLU Uses Giveaways to Improve Newsletter Engagement
  • Alexis Thrower, Anna-Maja Dahlgren

Publications, Collateral & Design - Internal/External Magazines

Bronze

  • TrueCare
  • Innovative Doula Program

Silver

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • Healthy Kids Magazine
  • Megan Matthew, Sarah Sapeda

Bronze

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Internal Weekly Content Email Newsletter
  • Aaron Alcozer

Bronze

  • CalOptima Health
  • Provider Press

Silver

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Physician/APP Update Newsletter
  • Rachel Thomae, Caroline Seeley

Gold

  • Loma Linda University
  • LLU Uses Giveaways to Improve Newsletter Engagement
  • Alexis Thrower, Anna-Maja Dahlgren

Publications, Collateral & Design - Logo Creation/Brand Identity

Bronze

  • Maricich Health
  • Redlands Community Hospital A New Generation of Caring

Silver

  • Maricich Health
  • MAGNUS Healthcare Language Services Logo Creation/Brand Identity

Publications, Collateral & Design -Special Publications

Bronze

  • Institute for Healthcare Advancement
  • Health Literacy White Papers
  • Beth Gromada Scott, Julia Wittner

Silver

  • Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties
  • Commitment to Excellence Annual Report
  • Mel Lopez, Kylie Hunter

Gold

  • CalOptima Health
  • 2025 Report to the Community

Special Events - Multi-Day Event or Observance

Bronze

  • AMN Healthcare
  • 2024 Company Meeting & Spirit Week

Silver

  • AMN Healthcare
  • AMN Healthcare Talent & Innovation Summit
  • Mike Nielson

Silver

  • CalOptima Health
  • Naloxone Distribution

Special Events - Single-Day Event or Observance

Bronze

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Grow with Us at East Campus Medical Center

Bronze

  • Loma Linda University
  • Loma Linda University’s Open House 2024
  • Wesley Erickson, Jack Proctor

Silver

  • Rady Children’s Health
  • Rady Children’s Centerstage: 70 Years of Care
  • Sandra Gartland, Danilyn Evangelista

Gold

  • Loma Linda University
  • Careers in Public Health event
  • Summer Clark

Gold

  • CalOptima Health
  • Back-to-School Health and Wellness Fair

Special Events - Virtual Event(s)

Silver

  • Institute for Healthcare Advancement
  • IHA's Annual Health Literacy Conference 2024
  • Diana Gonzalez, Eskarlethe Juarez

Writing - ​Bylined/Feature Article

Bronze

  • UC San Diego Health
  • Breaking Barriers, Shattering Glass: Women in Medicine
  • Michelle Brubaker, Jeanna Vazquez

Silver

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • From OC to UK: A Warning Heard Around the Globe
  • Kelsey Dalton

Gold

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • A Family's Journey Through Kawasaki Disease
  • Megan Matthew

Gold

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • CEO Leadership Profile
  • Ben Metcalf

Writing - ​News Release/Pitch Letter

Bronze

  • CalOptima Health
  • Street Medicine News Release

Silver

  • City of Hope Orange County
  • The Younger Face of Cancer
  • Lisa O'Neill Hill

Gold

  • UC San Diego Health
  • AI Enhances Physician-Patient Communication
  • Annie Pierce

Gold

  • CalOptima Health
  • Provider Workforce Development

Writing - ​Op-Ed/Editorial

Silver

  • Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
  • Celebrating 70 Years of Care
  • Ben Metcalf


Best in Show

The coveted “Best in Show” is awarded to the entries with the highest scores.

Past Best in Show Winners

2024 Public Relations Campaigns: Internal Communications - City of Hope Orange County, Hope is at Work

2024 Writing: News Release/Pitch Letter - Scatena Daniels and San Diego Blood Bank for San Diego Blood Bank Precision Blood Initiative Launch

2024 Writing: Op-Ed/Editorial - UC San Diego Health and Lifesharing, Donate Life Month Editorial Campaign

2024 Writing: Op-Ed/Editorial - Scatena Daniels and San Diego Blood Bank, Precision Blood Op-Ed Series

2022/2023 Scripps Health, OE Performance Max Ads

2021 Tri-City Medical Center, Heroes Live Here Poster

2020 Tri-City Medical Center, Tri-City Medical Center Brand Refresh-Branding Guide

2019 Scripps Marketing Scripps Whittier Diabetes Yellow Line Digital, Scripps Diabetes Outreach

2018 Studio K Communications, “For the Boys” written for Cedars-Sinai

2016/17 UC San Diego Marketing and Communications, Cancer Immunotherapy media relations campaign

2015/16 AMN Healthcare, 2015 Survey of Registered Nurses Multi-Channel Digital Campaign

2014 UC San Diego Health Sciences, Discoveries Magazine, Volume 5/2014

2013 Porter Novelli, The Bill Holmes Tower Opens at CHOC Children’s, Public Relations Campaign

2012 Palomar Health, Opening of the New Palomar Medical Center, Public Relations Campaign

2011 Scripps Health, Update Magazine

2010 San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, “Pawsitive Pals” Video

Special Thank You to Our Judges

Once again, this year’s entries were judged by our colleagues at The New England Society of Healthcare Communications, NESHCo. We are grateful for their partnership and hard work to judge your entries this year. NESHCo is a premier membership organization for healthcare communication, marketing and public relations professionals in New England. To learn more, visit www.neshco.org.










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