About the Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony
About Texas Obesity Awareness Week
Texas Obesity Awareness Week (TOAW) was established in the 80th Legislative Session (2007) by House Bill 2313 and is designated to occur in the second full week of September each year. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the health risks associated with obesity and to encourage Texans to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. TOAW consists of several events statewide and was highlighted by the Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony hosted by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health and the Live Smart Texas Coalition from 2008 - 2019.
The Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony was held annually from 2008 - 2019 to recognize leaders who have demonstrated exemplary achievement in reducing the burden and raising awareness of the obesity epidemic in Texas. The 2019 award ceremony took place during the 12th Annual Texas Obesity Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2019.
Legislative reference can be found here.
The Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony was administered through funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, part of The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health in Austin. Due to organizational changes within our research center, we are currently re-evaluating the Texas Health Champion Awards and the Rising Star Awards. We hope to be able to include this program in future activities held at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living in upcoming years.
Watch 2022 Texas Obesity Awareness Week webinar here.
Past Award Ceremony Keynote Speakers
12th Annual Award Ceremony (2019)
Keynote Speaker:
Brian C. Castrucci, DrPh
Chief Executive Officer of the de Beaumont Foundation
"Rowing Upstream: How to Make America Healthy"
See Dr. Castrucci's presentation slides here.
11th Annual Award Ceremony (2018)
Keynote Speaker:
Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPh
Professor and Interim Chair of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UTHealth San Antonio
"Salud America! Promoting Health Equity Using Digital Strategies in Texas and Beyond"
See the recording of Dr. Ramirez's presentation here.
10th Annual Award Ceremony (2017)
Keynote Speaker:
Jay Maddock, PhD, FAAHB
Dean and Professor, Texas A&M School of Public Health
"Preventing Obesity at the State and Regional Level: From Hawaii to the Southern United States"
See the recording of Dr. Maddock's presentation here.
9th Annual Award Ceremony (2016)
Keynote Speaker:
John W. Hellerstedt, MD
Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services
"Obesity Prevention in Texas"
See the recording of Dr. Hellerstedt's presentation here.
8th Annual Award Ceremony (2015)
Keynote Speaker:
Major General Tony Cucolo
Vice Chancellor for Leadership Development and Veterans' Affairs, The University of Texas System
Mission: Readiness
See the recording of Major General Cucolo's presentation here.
7th Annual Award Ceremony (2014)
Keynote Speaker:
Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
CEO, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
6th Annual Award Ceremony (2013)
Keynote Speaker:
Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Heart Association
5th Annual Award Ceremony (2012)
Keynote Speaker:
Margo Wootan, D.Sc.
Director of Nutrition Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest
4th Annual Award Ceremony (2011)
Presentation:
TexFlix: A showcase of obesity efforts across Texas
3rd Annual Award Ceremony (2010)
Presentations:
T-COPPE Presentation: Dr. Marcia Ory and Dr. Deanna Hoelscher
Active Texas 2020 Presentation: Donna Nichols and Dr. Bill Kohl
Partnership for a Healthy Texas Legislative Priorities: Carrie Kroll
2nd Annual Award Ceremony (2009)
Keynote Speaker:
William Klish, MD
Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine
1st Annual Award Ceremony (2008)
Keynote Speaker:
Susan Combs
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Obesity Awareness Week Partners
