Finest Awards 2007 COTY Winner

The 15th Annual Health Care Communicators (HCC) of San Diego Finest Awards took place on Feb. 7 at the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds. All bets were off when it came to honoring Cheryl Moder, recipient of Health Care Communicators of San Diego’s 2007 Communicator of the Year (COTY) award. The COTY award is the highest honor given each year to recognize outstanding leadership, innovation, accomplishment and community service in effectively communicating health care issues.

Moder is the Director of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (the Initiative) and has been an advocate and driving force in helping to solve the issue of childhood obesity. Through her commitment and leadership, the Initiative created an infrastructure for professionals in seven domains – county and city governments, health care systems and providers, schools and before- and after-school providers, child care and preschool providers, community-based/faith-based and youth organizations, media outlets, marketing industry and businesses – to share best practices and collaborate in developing activities designed to reduce and prevent childhood obesity. With innovation being one of many of Moder’s key strengths, she is creating a first-of-its-kind childhood obesity prevention and reduction model which is gaining attention from organizations and health institutions across the United States.

Moder’s tireless efforts have impacted change at the local, state and national levels. Locally, she has launched a number of programs involving a range of organizations from the San Diego Padres, San Diego County of Education, University of California, San Diego, YMCA of San Diego County and the Coalition on Children and Weight San Diego. The California Government’s office contacted the Initiative to use their action plan as a model to develop the California Obesity plan. At the national level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health interviewed Moder as part of research projects related to childhood obesity.

Dedicating her time toward philanthropy and community services, Moder has served many years in prominent roles for organizations such as MAKUA – Friends of Voices for Children, MADCAPS (Mothers and Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies), and High Tech Middle Media Arts PTA. As part of her work with the Initiative, Moder serves on advisory boards and committees such as Kids’ Health Initiative and YMCA Childcare Resource Service.

As a catalyst of change, Moder continues to make a difference and bring a heightened awareness of childhood obesity to the community and beyond. San Diego is grateful for Moder’s continuous contributions toward improved health.