Announcing the 2025 Social Health Award Winners!
The Social Health Awards celebrate the incredible work of patients and caregivers sharing their journeys online. This year's winners are inspirational, and their tireless advocacy efforts deserve to be recognized and honored. Empowering other patients and caregivers is a cause worth celebrating!
Our judges had the difficult job of selecting the winners from a large pool of remarkable nominees. The initial nominations were first narrowed down to 50 finalists by a group of dedicated Health Leaders and industry experts. Then, those finalists were assigned weighted scores to determine the Social Health Award winners.
Now, we're thrilled to present the 2025 Social Health Award Winners!
Advocacy Trailblazer
Thomas Silvera
Thomas Silvera, a certified surgical technologist and public health advocate, is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Elijah-Alavi Foundation. He holds a Master of Science in Public Health, is currently working toward a doctoral degree, and champions food allergy and asthma awareness, safety, and equity, particularly for children and underserved communities. Thomas tragically lost his son to allergy-induced anaphylaxis and made it his mission to increase awareness about the severity of food allergies and anaphylaxis.
When we asked what it means to Thomas to be a Health Leader, he said, "It means carrying my son Elijah’s legacy forward after his loss through action, advocacy, and compassion. It means turning my pain into purpose by fighting for safer schools, stronger policies, and greater awareness so no family has to experience what mine did. To me, it is about standing with the community, amplifying their voices, and making sure every child has the chance to live safe, healthy, and full lives.”
Best Team
For the Breast of Us
For the Breast of Us is dedicated to empowering women of color impacted by breast cancer. Their mission is to help them live their best lives through education, advocacy, and community. They offer resources, support, and hope through education, advocacy, and connection.
Their team shared with us that their mission is "about centering women of color impacted by breast cancer, acknowledging the unique barriers we face, creating spaces where our stories are seen and valued, and pushing for systemic change that saves lives...It’s about bridging the gap between patients and providers, challenging disparities that harm our communities, and uplifting those who too often go unheard...no one is left behind."
Caregiving Champion
Tameka Simmons
Tameka is a mother of 3 whose work is making it possible for families raising medically complex kids to find community and support.
She began the nonprofit Through Evely's (Eva-lee) Eyes – named after her daughter – to empower and assist families with children facing rare medical conditions. She also runs the Medical Mom’s Night Out program, which focuses on the mental, physical, and spiritual health of caregivers.
Tameka said being a Health Leader "means everything" to her, and went on to share, "As a caregiver, mother, and advocate, I know firsthand how deeply health impacts every part of life…to me, being a Health Leader is about showing up with compassion, using my voice to bridge gaps, and creating spaces where families like mine feel seen, supported, and empowered.”
Find Tameka on Instagram @thediazgirls.
Community Cultivator
Amy Thompson
Amy Thompson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018. She shares her story through her social media platforms @butyoudontlookill and she is also the Founder and CEO of the charity @mstogetherofficial which provides support to young adults living with MS in the UK and Ireland.
Through her platforms, Amy creates safe spaces for people to feel seen and heard. She also raises awareness of MS and invisible illnesses and her hope is that one day people no longer have to justify their struggles.
Amy shared with us that a Health Leader "listens deeply to their community, then acts with empathy and courage to make sure those needs are met – whether that’s by shaping new services, raising awareness in the media, or sitting at the table with decision-makers to influence research and policy."
Find Amy on Instagram @butyoudontlookill.
Creative Contributor
Chelsey Gomez
Chelsey, also known as the artist "Ohyouresotough," is a 2-time survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She owns the non-traditional cancer brand of the same name, which focuses on using humor as a coping mechanism for cancer and chronic illness. Chelsey has cultivated a large community on Instagram and uses her art to advocate on behalf of the adolescent and young adult cancer community and the cancer community as a whole.
To Chelsey, Health Leadership means "not being afraid to say the hard things out loud. I challenge traditional norms by openly discussing cancer, giving others a way to find their voice on difficult topics. I believe in holding yourself to a higher standard for your community, always prioritizing their needs in my plans and actions. I see myself as a big sister to the cancer community, driven by a fierce desire to protect and encourage those around me."
Find Chelsey on Instagram @ohyouresotough.
Healthcare Collaborator
Danica Collins
Danica is dedicated to empowering those living with type 1 diabetes to live their best lives. She is a health and wellness coach, brand ambassador, and founder of Dia-Log, the Insulin for Your Soul, which is a holistic approach to managing diabetes. Danica works as a global healthcare executive consultant, specializing in digital health, and creates educational content on her social media.
To Danica, "being a Health Leader means bridging the gap – between data and dignity, between systems and stories, between what is and what’s possible. It’s not just about being in the room. It’s about making space once you get there. It’s about listening as much as leading. And it’s about bringing both lived experience and strategic insight to the table – so that care doesn’t just reach people, but actually reflects them. Health leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions."
Find Danica on Instagram @danicathediabetic.
Lifetime Achievement
Natalie Hayden
Natalie is a passionate advocate for people with inflammatory bowel disease. Her goal is to demonstrate that a chronic illness like Crohn's disease doesn't have to diminish your spirit. Natalie was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in July 2005. What followed was several hospitalizations, trying many medications, and having flare-ups. She eventually underwent bowel resection surgery in August 2015.
Along with her blog, Natalie was the United States Ambassador for the first-ever Global Consensus Conference on IBD and pregnancy and served as the patient lead globally. She was selected in September 2024 to serve as a Social Media Ambassador for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation on a national level. Natalie is also on the Advisory Board for IBD Moms and IBD Social Circle (#IBDSC).
She shared with us, "When I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 21 in July 2005, I only knew 2 people who had Crohn's disease. I still remember how isolating it was to be given a chronic illness diagnosis and how lonely it felt not to be able to connect with others who truly understood my reality. Being a Health Leader enables me to be the voice I so desperately needed upon diagnosis, when I started my career, when I found love, when I got married, when I started a family, and as I navigate life as a mom of 3 kids now."
Find Natalie on Instagram @natalieannhayden.
Rookie of the Year
Alexia Vernon
Alexia Vernon, CEO of Step Into Your Moxie, is a communication and leadership coach. Her company helps leaders in various industries, particularly healthcare, biotech, and life sciences, develop their executive presence, handle high-stakes communication, improve presentation skills, and become thought leaders. Alexia began as a Health Leader by sharing her journey with thyroid and breast cancer, as well as her concurrent vocal cord polyp and voice rehabilitation.
Alexia told us that, "Sharing my own stories of breast and thyroid cancer has been equal parts challenging and liberating, but I know that in doing so, I open the door for others to share theirs. Patient leadership is not about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s about showing up with empathy, clarity, and conviction, so that others can see what’s possible for themselves."
Find Alexia on Instagram @alexiavernon.
Revolutionary Researcher
Dr. Eric Singhi
Dr. Singhi is an oncologist and assistant professor at the Department of General Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He's passionate about patient education and young-onset lung cancer. He is deeply committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to his patients while advancing clinical research in the field.
Dr. Singhi is "beyond grateful for this opportunity to educate and connect with others about the importance of early detection, ongoing research, and compassionate care in the world of lung cancer."
Find Dr. Singhi on Instagram @lungoncdoc.
Social Media Master
Imani Futrell
Imani is a content creator, Health Leader, and advocate for the hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) community. She has gained an amazing following on TikTok and Instagram by sharing content about her day-to-day life managing HS. Imani is passionate about advocating for HS awareness and using her platform to educate, uplift, and connect with both those living with HS and those who may not know much about it.
Imani shared with us, "I strive to show my community that they are not alone, that their voices matter, and that they are worthy of love, softness, and hope even on the hardest days. Being a Health Leader is not just about speaking up, but also about listening, uplifting others, and creating spaces where our stories can inspire progress and connection."
Find Imani on Instagram @mottsworld_.
Congratulations to all Social Health Award nominees, finalists, and winners!
A nomination means you’ve impacted someone’s life, and that’s the biggest win. With the help of all of you, we’re closer to changing the patient journey than ever before. Thank you for sharing your story, using your voice, and uplifting your community members. Cheers to the patient's voice!
Thank you for sharing your story, supporting others, and building community. We are so grateful to be a part of your journey.
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