Previous Years
Event Highlights
Honorees
John Baackes
Chief Executive Officer,
L.A. Care Health Plan
VISIONARY AWARD
John Baackes is Chief Executive Officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan serving over two million members in Los Angeles County.
John currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Charles Drew University. He sits on the boards of America’s Health Insurance Plans, California Association of Health Plans, Local Health Plans of California, Project Angel Food, and Urban Voices Project.
State Dental Director,
California Department
of Public Health
Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH
CHAMPION AWARD
Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH, has made oral health a priority as California's state dental director since his appointment by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015. He has collaborated with partners to develop the State Oral Health Plan, addressing disease prevention and access to dental care with innovative solutions such as community water fluoridation, school-based interventions, and professional training programs.
