Cast your vote: Here are the 10 finalists for the 2026 RISE Trailblazer and Health Care Hero Awards

We received more than 50 nominations for our two annual awards and have narrowed the field to five exceptional finalists for each award. Now it’s up to you. Cast your vote for each award by January 31. We’ll announce the winners at our annual events in March.

The 2026 RISE Trailblazer Award finalists

Congratulations to our five finalists for the 2026 award:

• Lisa Collins, chief of Wassamaw Tribe, assistant director of nursing, Veterans Victory House
  
  
• Kevin Dahill-Fuchel, executive director, Counseling in Schools
  
  
• Melvin Dizon, licensed social worker, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
  
  
• Bryant Harvin, founder & CEO, National Alliance on Ending Health Disparities
  
  
• Dr. Teresa Tyson, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FAANP, president & CEO, St. Mary's Health Wagon

Review the nominations and then cast your vote by January 31 (please note, you may only vote once and must select one finalist). The winner will be announced at RISE National 2026, which will take place March 23-25 in Orlando, Fla.

As assistant director of nursing, she provides essential oversight to one of the region's most important long-term care facilities for veterans. Her work ensures that elder veterans receive safe, high-quality, culturally informed, and patient-centered care. She leads with a strong focus on clinical excellence, workforce development, and patient advocacy, building trust among families and staff alike. Her commitment to public health extends far beyond clinical management—she promotes evidence-based practices, emergency preparedness, and holistic approaches to healing that uplift both patients and professional caregivers.

Within the Wassamasaw Tribe, Chief Collins is a powerful voice for health equity, cultural preservation, and community well-being. She was part of the original ad hoc committee that established the state's recognition process for Indigenous tribes, helping lay the foundation for fair representation and access to resources. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing land preservation efforts, environmental stewardship, and legislative advocacy benefiting tribal communities.

Whether she is coordinating elder care for veterans, working to protect culturally significant lands, mentoring future health care workers, or advocating for legislation to support tribal communities, Chief Lisa Collins exemplifies service in every form, the nomination says. Her work strengthens not only the Wassamasaw Tribe, but the broader South Carolina community—building pathways toward healthier, more resilient, and more equitable futures for all.

the organization has undergone a significant transformation—evolving from a counseling-only model into a multidimensional, strength-based continuum of care that supports not only students, but also families, teachers, and school administrators.

This evolution has been especially critical over the past five years, as New York City schools have faced unprecedented challenges. He led CIS through periods of school violence, community-wide trauma, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent influx of immigrant and asylum-seeking students—many of whom arrived with histories of displacement, loss, and unaddressed trauma. Rather than responding with temporary or fragmented solutions, Kevin guided CIS to expand its services in a way that was intentional, culturally responsive, and sustainable.

Under his direction, CIS broadened its interventions to include crisis response, trauma-informed schoolwide support, family engagement, and training for educators. This allowed the organization to respond not just to individual student needs, but to system-level challenges affecting entire school communities. In moments of acute crisis—such as incidents of violence or community trauma—CIS counselors were able to stabilize students, support staff, and help schools restore a sense of safety and continuity. For immigrant families navigating unfamiliar systems, language barriers, and fear, CIS became a trusted point of connection and care.

care coordination, and chronic disease management. These advancements directly address long-standing disparities in senior care, especially for individuals facing mobility limitations, transportation barriers, cognitive decline, or chronic disengagement from primary and behavioral health services.

His work demonstrates that meaningful innovation can and must originate at the frontline, where patient needs are best understood and solutions can be tailored for real-world feasibility.

The measurable impact of Dizon’a contributions is significant. His strategies have helped reduce chronic no-show rates in adult medicine, improve continuity of care for high-risk older adults, and expand reach to individuals who have been historically left out of traditional health care delivery systems. He has also developed scalable, culturally grounded workflows explicitly designed for Federally Qualified Health Centers, enabling organizations with limited resources to adopt technology ethically and sustainably. His approach intentionally merges modern tools with trauma-informed, patient-centered care, ensuring that innovation does not replace human connection but enhances it.

Beyond clinical innovation, his leadership extends into philanthropy, community development, and national service. A retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, he brings a mission-driven perspective to health care, informed by personal resilience, integrity, and service. He has led statewide and national initiatives, raised substantial philanthropic support for vulnerable families, and developed emergency funds to support single mothers and domestic violence survivors. His influence is also evident in his academic leadership as a Doctor of Social Work candidate, where he contributes research focused on health equity, social determinants, and technology-enabled access for older adults in underserved regions.

His innovation is visible in NAEHD’s foundational structure. He established a highly strategic board, successfully bridging the often-siloed worlds of clinical care and business strategy. The board includes board-certified family physicians (MDs), experts in mental health and digital health, alongside seasoned financial leaders (MBAs).

This integration ensures NAEHD approaches disparities with both clinical depth and fiscal sustainability. The organization strategically targets severely underserved communities across various age groups and conditions, including complex areas like rare disease populations. This focused approach allows NAEHD to deliver measurable systemic change from its earliest days.

Harvin’s leadership is defined by his ability to transform personal vision into action, creating community impact that directly benefits vulnerable populations, including America’s seniors. His previous decade of non-profit management—leading complex initiatives across fields like professional accreditation and program management—provided him with the unique expertise to tackle systemic change.

His leadership is transformative because NAEHD’s work focuses on policy and system change, which directly impacts older Americans reliant on Medicare and Medicaid programs. Disparities in quality, access, and outcomes disproportionately affect minority and low-income seniors. By advocating for improved clinical governance and access through NAEHD, he is driving transformative improvements in the very infrastructure that serves millions of seniors.

One of Dr. Tyson’s most significant contributions has been her leadership in advancing mobile and community-based health care delivery for older adults. By bringing care directly into communities through mobile clinics and trusted local sites, she has helped ensure seniors receive preventive care, chronic disease management, and timely interventions without the burden of long-distance travel or complex referral systems. These models have allowed many seniors to remain healthier, more independent, and more connected to care as they age.

Dr. Tyson’s work is marked by a clear focus on innovation with purpose. Her approach goes beyond providing services; it rethinks how care is structured for seniors with multiple needs. She has supported care models that integrate physical health, mental health, medication management, and health education—recognizing that effective senior care must be coordinated, accessible, and rooted in long-term relationships. These efforts have led to improved engagement, better management of chronic conditions, and reduced reliance on emergency care.

Most recently, Dr. Tyson has spearheaded the development of Central Appalachia’s first free and charitable pharmacy, St. Mary’s Faith Pharmacy, addressing one of the region’s most urgent gaps in care: access to essential medications for seniors and medically vulnerable patients. Under her leadership, the pharmacy became a trusted, sustainable resource for patients who otherwise could not afford or obtain their prescriptions, particularly those managing chronic conditions. In 2025 alone, St. Mary’s Faith Pharmacy delivered $2.5 million in lifesaving medications, with a critical focus on insulin and respiratory treatments, helping ensure continuity of care in a region where access to health services is often uncertain. Through this work, Dr. Tyson not only introduced a groundbreaking service to Central Appalachia but also created a dependable lifeline for patients who rely on consistent medication to survive and maintain their independence.

The 2026 RISE Health Care Hero Award finalists

Congratulations to our five finalists for the 2026 award:

• Rebecca Desir, founder and executive director of Black Health Commission
  
  
• Dr. Donney John, executive director of NOVA ScriptsCentral
  
  
• Heather Jurosic, health coordinator, Grand Lake Health System
  
  
• Jenn Brooks Kaluza, founder, Come As You Are (CAYA) 
  
  
• Kardie Tobb, cardiologist at Cone Health Medical Group

Review the nominations and then cast your vote by January 31 (please note, you may only vote once and must select one finalist). The winner will be announced at The RISE Healthy Communities Summit, which will take place March 23-25 in Orlando, Fla.

Desir has implemented innovative frameworks that prioritize community voices, ensuring that health care strategies align with the specific needs of underserved populations. Her work has led to the allocation of resources toward mental health services, food security programs, and maternal health initiatives, demonstrating a systemic approach to addressing SDoH.

Beyond her organizational roles, Desir is a sought-after consultant and mentor. Through Desir Consulting, she advises nonprofits, health departments, and foundations on developing culturally competent health programs. Her guidance has empowered organizations to implement effective strategies that address health disparities and promote equity. Her contributions have been acknowledged through several accolades, including the Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40, Black Health Connect 40 Under 40, and being a finalist for the Orlando Sentinel Central Floridian of the Year. These honors reflect her significant impact on health equity and community well-being

He successfully scaled the annual patient population served from 3,000 to more than 6,000 uninsured individuals across Northern Virginia, while collaborating with national partners to indirectly support nearly three million lives. His ability to secure and diversify funding, from five to over15 active grant funders, has generated nearly $1 million in annual support, ensuring organizational stability and enabling the expansion of high-impact programs addressing chronic disease, prevention, behavioral health, SDoH, and vaccine equity. His stewardship has also strengthened NSC’s financial and operational integrity, resulting in a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-Star Charity Navigator rating across all leadership and finance categories.

One of Dr. John’s most transformative achievements was leading a national initiative that resulted in the donation of thousands of insulin vials and pens, dramatically expanding access for uninsured individuals and removing one of the most significant cost barriers in chronic disease management. This initiative alone changed and saved lives, ensuring that no patient had to choose between their health and their financial survival.

Dr. John is equally renowned for his innovative and culturally grounded approach to health literacy. He worked to create more appropriate, culturally competent health education materials that resonate with communities across the country and led the development of multilingual resources that are now shared with organizations nationwide. Addressing the immediate linguistic needs of diverse communities, NSC has grown its staff and volunteer capacity under his leadership, with the team collectively speaking over 30 different languages. This multilingual capacity directly supports the creation of health tools in over five languages, addressing linguistic and literacy barriers and expanding access to trustworthy, understandable health information.

Something as simple as a home scale, essential for tracking fluid retention, was out of reach for many of them, and this barrier contributed to preventable readmissions. She brought forward the concern, explained how deeply it affected her patients, and helped the organization identify a practical solution. Her advocacy played a meaningful role in securing a grant that allowed the health system to provide free home scales and one-on-one education for patients who otherwise would not have had access. Heather personally delivered the scales, taught patients how to monitor their weight safely, and checked in regularly to help them recognize early warning signs.

Her work strengthened the organization’s heart failure program and contributed to the success that helped Grand Lake Health System become one of the first DNV Heart Failure–Certified organizations in Ohio. Her ongoing involvement ensures that patients remain supported, informed, and connected to their care team, often making the difference between stability at home and a return to the hospital.

Jurosici’s impact on community health is just as meaningful as the work she does inside the hospital. She has been a leader of the Child Wellness Program, which brings preventive care and vital resources directly to families in Auglaize and Mercer Counties. What began as a small outreach idea has grown into a deeply valued community tradition, serving more than 1,000 children who might otherwise go without essential care. Under her guidance, the program brings families access to state Medicaid resources, vision and hearing screenings, fluoride and dental support, and connections to pediatric mental health providers.

Today, she is transforming support for autistic and neurodivergent adults in Virginia through her nonprofit, Come As You Are (CAYA), where she serves as founder and executive director. Brooks Kaluza created CAYA after recognizing a significant and long-standing gap in support services for autistic individuals transitioning into adulthood. While children often receive structured services, those supports drop sharply at age 18—leaving many young adults without pathways to employment, independent living, or community connection. Drawing on her professional experience and her perspective as a parent to a neurodivergent son, she built CAYA to fill this critical gap.

CAYA’s entire model intentionally addresses SDoH. Through job readiness skills, coaching, executive-functioning support, and structured environments designed with sensory needs in mind, participants build confidence, stability, and autonomy. Importantly, Brooks Kaluza ensures that cost is never a barrier by offering scholarships to individuals with limited financial resources.

Before founding CAYA, Jenn spent nearly 15 years in senior roles within Medicare and Medicaid programs, where she designed, improved, and managed benefits with direct impact on vulnerable populations. Her work spanned food and transportation access, fitness and home-safety benefits, over-the-counter supports, caregiver programs, and rewards and incentives for sustained health engagement. She helped national health plans create more flexible, compliant, and member-centered benefit structures, modernize member experience strategies, and strengthen operational workflows for complex-care populations. Her contributions improved service accessibility and independence for millions of members, especially those with chronic conditions, disabilities, and limited income.