The Winners of Adelphi University's First-Ever Health Innovation Awards

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Nov. 16, 2017 - PRLog -- Adelphi University is proud to announce the winners of the first-ever Health Innovation Awards initiated by Adelphi's Center for Health Innovation (CHI), which is the primary resource in our region for innovative, multidisciplinary, evidence-based responses to improving health, healthcare systems and public health.

Awards were granted to individuals or organizations in the community who have made a remarkable contribution to innovation in the healthcare field in the following categories: Health Literacy and Health Education, Public Health Preparedness, Health Care Delivery Systems and Community-Engaged Arts and Health. Applications for each category highlighted the incredible work that is done every day in our communities. The recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. at Adelphi University for the honorees, their guests and the Adelphi community. The accomplishments of all nominees will be featured at this event.

Here is a list and brief description of this year's winners:

Adelphi University's Center for Health Innovation Health Innovation Award 2017 Public Health Preparedness:

Dr. Thomas P. Demaria, Long Island University Trauma Response Team

Dr. Demaria is an adjunct professor teaching in the Long Island University Post (LIU Post) Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, a fellow of the Trauma Division of the American Psychological Association, director of the Psychological Services Center of the Doctoral Psychology Program at LIU Post and founder of the Graduate Student Trauma Response Team. Dr. Demaria also currently serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the National Center for School Crisis & Bereavement, is involved in web-based training initiatives for the National Coalition to Support Grieving Students, received multiple awards for leading hundreds of community disaster counseling responses and has written multiple publications on how to psychologically support youth and children during disasters. Dr. Demaria received his Ph.D. in Clinical/School Psychology from Hofstra University in 1986 and has been a New York State licensed Psychologist since 1987.

Adelphi University's Center for Health Innovation Health Innovation Award 2017 Health Literacy & Education:

The Prevention Collaborative

The Prevention Collaborative is an interdisciplinary, inter-organizational consortium of community members, community-based organizations, clinicians, health educators, multimedia content developers, and academic researchers. The organization was founded by Dr. Christel Hyden (Harlem Health Promotion Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine), Dr. Rafael E. Perez-Figueroa (Columbia University) and Dr. Anthony Santella (Hofstra University) to expand upon HIV prevention initiatives both locally and nationally focusing on the design, implementation and evaluation of targeted health education materials using both innovative technologies and a community based participatory approach.

Adelphi University's Center for Health Innovation Health Innovation Award 2017 Community-Engaged Arts & Health:

Rockville Centre Youth Council, Inc.

The Rockville Centre Youth Council, Inc. (RVCYC), brings together Rockville Centre teens with dedicated adults to prevent substance use by highlighting the dangers of underage drinking and illegal drug use. Founded in 2009, the RVCYC is a nonprofit organization that organizes awareness campaigns, substance-free social events, community service opportunities and social action activities to further their mission. Notable events include their Annual Substance Abuse Awareness Campaign through the Arts, Social Host Campaign and Sticker Shock Campaign.

Adelphi University's Center for Health Innovation Health Innovation Award 2017 Health Care Delivery Systems:

Transgender Voice Program Adelphi University

Founded in the Spring semester of 2016 at Adelphi University, the Transgender Voice Group provides a safe and supportive setting for individuals in the transgender community who wish to modify their voices efficiently and without effort. Since its creation, the group has provided voices services to at least 15 transgender clients in group and individual settings.

For more information contact: 516-877-4582 (tel:%28516%29%20877-4582), and go to the Center for Health Innovation (http://chi.adelphi.edu/) website for more information on the winners.

About Adelphi University Center for Health Innovation

Adelphi University's Center for Health Innovation (http://chi.adelphi.edu/) (CHI) is the primary resource in our region for innovative, multidisciplinary, evidence-based responses to improving health, healthcare systems and public health. CHI creates and fosters community-focused, interdisciplinary academic programming, applied research, community partnerships and leadership—all with the goal of meeting current and emergent health needs of Long Island and our region.

About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning.

Adelphi University is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university offering exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training with particular strength in its Core Four—Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Adelphi is dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support student success.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1896, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university. Today Adelphi serves over 7,900 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York—just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities—and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online.

More than 100,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, caring citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world beyond.