Health Action 2008 Consumer Health
Advocates of the Year

(photo coming soon)

Mary Caferro
Press Release, January 25

Mary Caferro, a former TANF recipient, is a mother of four children and a native of Montana. Since 1999, she has been a member of WEEL (Working for Equality and Economic Liberation), a grassroots economic and social justice organization. WEEL seeks to ensure that those most affected by poverty are civically engaged and part of the democratic process from voting to policy creation and implementation. Ms. Caferro served as a VISTA volunteer at WEEL and then went on to become an Organizer/Advocate, Policy Specialist, and now, the Executive Director. 

In May 2006, Ms. Caferro and WEEL members and staff drafted their Beyond Poverty legislative platform for economic justice through economic development. The platform helped to focus policy discussions on ensuring that Montana state programs address the needs of lower-income people. Through advocacy and empowerment, WEEL continues to engage those affected by poverty in the decision-making process.

Ms. Caferro also serves in the Montana State Legislature, representing House District 80. In 2006, Ms. Caferro was named a Flemming Fellow for her courage and her commitment to public service and social justice. She is also on the board for Kids Count MT.

Maribeth Healey was involved in her first campaign at age ten, and she has been politically active ever since. She moved to Oregon to start and lead Oregonians for Health Security, a statewide, non-profit health care advocacy organization. During the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions, under Ms. Healey’s direction, Oregonians for Health Security worked on legislation to improve access to quality, affordable, secure health care and advocated for the formation of Oregon’s unique prescription drug purchasing pool.

Before moving to Oregon, Ms. Healey was intricately involved in various local and statewide campaigns in Florida. She served as the Director of Field Operations for the Florida Democratic Party, the Deputy Campaign Director for the Save Our Everglades Campaign, and the Florida State Council Director of the Service Employees International Union.

Ms. Healey has been recognized for her work as a political strategist and activist throughout her two decade career in electoral and issue campaign work. She currently serves as the Public Member of the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Board. She was also appointed by Senate President Peter Courtney to the Senate Commission on Health Care Access and Affordability.

Camille Watson currently serves as the Health Disparities Policy Coordinator for Health Care for All (MA). In this role, she oversees the organization’s health disparities policy initiatives and manages the Disparities Action Network (DAN), a statewide advocacy coalition. Ms. Watson began the development of the DAN in 2005, coordinating a diverse group of stakeholders to draft, file, and advocate for comprehensive disparities reduction legislation. She has led all of the coalition’s activities, working in collaboration with DAN partners, community members, and legislative leaders to build a health equity movement in Massachusetts.

Ms. Watson has maintained a commitment to the health of underserved populations, conducting research and evaluation related to inequality on a variety of issues, including genetic technology access, disease prevention models, and health services delivery. She has served on a number of research committees and has provided technical assistance and evaluation services for community health programs.

In addition to her health policy work, Ms. Watson is committed to the learning opportunities of children. As a literacy volunteer and mentor in urban schools, she has instructed elementary students and coordinated after school literacy programs for over a decade.

Vincent DeMarco, Executive Director of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative (MD)
Anne Dunkelberg, Associate Director for the Center for Public Policy Priorities (TX)
Anton Gunn, Executive Director, South Carolina Fair Share (SC)

Tony Garr, Executive Director, Tennessee Health Care Campaign (TN)
Anthony Wright, Executive Director, California Health Access (CA)
Kim Perry, Food Research Action Center (Washington D.C.) 

Aranthan S. Jones, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Office of Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Ellen Leitzer, Codirector, Senior Citizens’ Law Office, Inc. (NM)
Mary G. Troupe, Executive Director, The Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (MS)

Families USA Lifetime Advocacy Award Recipient

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, U.S. House of Representatives - D