Finest Awards

The Finest Awards event recognizes the best of our health care marketing and communications industry within Southern California. These awards recognize digital and traditional media, special events, and the metrics that measure success. Receipt of a Finest Award represents excellence in your field and line of work.

HCC awards on table

Finest Award Winners 2024

Advertising: Ad Campaign

Gold, Hope Lives Here, City of Hope, Orange County + Reveille

Silver, CalFresh Campaign, CalOptima Health

Bronze, Rady Children's Orthopedics Campaign, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Advertising: Direct Mail

Gold, OneCare Direct Mail, CalOptima Health

Advertising: Multicultural ad campaign

Silver, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us , Maricich Health

Advertising: Online/Web

Silver, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Advertising: Outdoor

Gold, Hope Lives Here, City of Hope Orange County + Reveille

Bronze, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Advertising: Paid Programming

Silver, Focus on Health Series 2023, UC San Diego Health

Advertising: Print

Silver, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Bronze, Hope Lives Here, City of Hope Orange County + Reveille

Advertising: Radio

Gold, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Silver, OneCare Radio Commercial, CalOptima Health

Advertising: Television

Gold, Hope Lives Here, City of Hope Orange County + Reveille

Silver, Answer Your Calling, Loma Linda University

Bronze, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Analytics: Lifecycle Marketing

Gold, Scripps/Qualcomm Premier Plan Annual Member Engagement, Scripps Health

Analytics: Market Research

Silver, Management Resident for University Marketing, Loma Linda University Health

Analytics: Marketing Automation

Bronze, First-Party Web Analytics, Scripps Health

Digital Marketing: Search Engine Marketing

Gold, Digital Marketing Same-Day Care PPC Campaign, UC San Diego Health

Digital Marketing: Social Media

Gold, Hospital Week Celebration, Loma Linda University Health

Silver, Light the Way 2023, Rady Children's Hospital

Bronze, Women in Medicine, Loma Linda University Health

Digital Marketing: Website (Intranet or Internet)

Bronze, Language Assistance Webpages, Scripps Health

Multi-Media: Interactive Media

Gold, Accessibility Widget, Scripps Health

Silver, Interactive Primary Care Location Map, UC San Diego Health

Bronze, Doctor Finder Interactive Map, Scripps Health

Multi-Media: Internal/External Video Programs

Gold, "World's Biggest Superhero", Lifesharing

Silver, Hitting Rock Bottom at a Birthday Party — My Alcohol Recovery Journey, Loma Linda University Health

Bronze, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Multi-Media: Video News Releases

Gold, Heartfelt Tribute to Young Organ Donor, Lifesharing

Public Relations Campaigns: Community Relations

Gold, Communicating the Future of Health Care – Marketing and Communications, UC San Diego Health

Silver, Empowering Public Health Professionals: Transformative Outreach and Scholarships Program, Loma Linda University

Bronze, Lifesharing University, Lifesharing

Public Relations Campaigns: Health & Wellness Advocacy

Gold, Rescue Me CPR App Campaign, UC San Diego Health

Silver, Health Education Fact Sheets, CalOptima Health

Public Relations Campaigns: Internal Communications

Gold, Hope is at Work, City of Hope Orange County

Silver, Road to the National Honor Roll, UC San Diego Health

Public Relations Campaigns: Media Relations

Silver, Patient Care Pavilion Groundbreaking, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Bronze, Cancer Hospital Topping Off + Mock Design, City of Hope Orange County and Reveille, Inc.

Public Relations Campaigns: Overall Campaign

Gold, Medi-Cal Renewal Campaign, CalOptima Health

Publications, Collateral & Design: Giveaway Items

Silver, Team Rady Honor Roll Jacket, Rady Children’s

Bronze, AAP Trolley Case, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Publications, Collateral & Design: Internal/External Magazines

Silver, Healthy Kids Magazine: Empowering Families, Transforming Lives, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Bronze, Inside Salk fall and winter 2023, Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Publications, Collateral & Design: Internal/External Newsletters

Gold, California Weekly Core Leader Newsletter, Providence Communication Team

Silver, "In the News", Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Silver, UCSD Physician/ APP Update Newsletter, UC San Diego Health

Bronze, Campus Connection - LLU university-wide student newsletter, Loma Linda University

Publications, Collateral & Design: Logo Creation/Brand Identity

Gold, CalOptima Health, Your Health Is Everything to Us, Maricich Health

Publications, Collateral & Design: Special Publications

Gold, IHA's I Can Communicate Better With Patients Booklet, Institute for Healthcare Advancement

Silver, 2024 Report to the Community, CalOptima Health

Bronze, Performance Report: Making History, Transforming the Future, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine

Special Events: Multi-day Event or Observance

Silver, AAP Conference Booth/Exhibit Design, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Special Events: Single-day Event or Observance

Gold, Doctors' Day Campaign, Scripps Health

Silver, A Beam of Hope, City of Hope Orange County

Bronze, Padres Pop-Up Caravan, UC San Diego Health

Special Events: Virtual Events

Silver, California Virtual Lecture Series, Providence

Bronze, CEO Town Halls, UC San Diego Health

Writing: Feature Article

Silver, Innovation in Health Care Partnership Excellence Award: Rady Children's Hospital and Doximity, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Bronze, Premature Baby Born in 1981 Delivers Premature Twins in 2022 at Same Hospital, UC San Diego Health

Writing: News Release/Pitch Letter

Gold, San Diego Blood Bank Precision Blood Initiative Launch, Scatena Daniels and San Diego Blood Bank

Silver, City of Hope Predictions, City of Hope

Bronze, Epilepsy Clinical Trial News Release, UC San Diego Health

Writing: Op-Ed/Editorial

Gold, Donate Life Month Editorials, UC San Diego Health and Lifesharing

Gold, Precision Blood Op-Ed Series, Scatena Daniels and San Diego Blood Bank

Silver, Editorial Campaign Countering Misinformation in Fontana, Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

Bronze, Opinion: Medicaid redeterminations raise threat of new public health crisis, Meehan Business Advisers

Writing: Vlog / Blog

Gold, CEO Fall Holiday Video Message, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego

Silver, City of Hope Orange County Blog, City of Hope Orange County

Off the Wall

Bronze, CalFresh Sculpture, CalOptima Health

Best in Show (Four winners for 2024)

1. Public Relations Campaigns: Internal Communications, Hope is at Work, City of Hope Orange County

2. Writing: News Release/Pitch Letter, San Diego Blood Bank Precision Blood Initiative Launch, Scatena Daniels and San Diego Blood Bank

3. Writing: Op-Ed/Editorial, Donate Life Month Editorials, UC San Diego Health and Lifesharing

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

COTY (Communicator of the Year) Winner

Nichole Ramirez

Senior Vice President, Communications and Donor Relations

Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

The 2024 Communicator of the Year Award went to Nichole Ramirez, Senior Vice President, Communications and Donor Relations for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

Nichole has led PPOSBC’s communications and marketing for over a decade. As the primary media spokesperson, she tackles sensitive topics like abortion and reproductive healthcare policy.

Despite threats from anti-abortion protestors and political attacks, Nichole ensures accurate communication about PPOSBC’s services beyond abortion. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, she orchestrated fundraising efforts and media responses.

Nichole’s media presence led to significant donations, including two anonymous $1 million gifts. She fearlessly represents Planned Parenthood, navigating legal battles and changing abortion restrictions.

Nichole’s unflappable demeanor and strategic leadership make her an invaluable asset in a volatile political climate.

Thank you to our Sponsors!