The Davis Award is
the AMA's highest honor for government service in health care. It is named after
the AMA's founder and recognizes the work of elected and career officials in
federal, state and municipal service whose contributions have promoted medicine
and the betterment of public health.
“Rep. Cody has led
efforts toward improving health care access for low income individuals and
transforming mental health services in Washington state,” said AMA Board Chair
Steven J. Stack, M.D. “Her dedication to public health has also earned the state
national recognition for its long term health care services and support
system.”
Rep. Cody
was nominated by former Governor Gregoire for the award. Rep. Cody has
been twice previously recognized by the Washington State Medical Association as
Legislator of the Year. The WSMA noted Rep. Cody’s previous efforts to advance
public health in our state.
When she's not being
honored by national organizations, Rep. Cody works as a nurse at Group Health
Cooperative in Seattle and serves as chair of the Health Care
and Wellness Committee.
In the legislature, Rep. Cody has worked for
improved patient safety, mental health parity, public health services and to
restore the universal purchase of vaccines.
More recently, she
has led efforts to implement the federal Affordable Care Act at the state level.
Largely because of her work, Washington is one of just six states ready to
implement the health benefits exchange on-time in 2014.Photo: Rep. Cody with (at left) Terry Moran of ABC News and AMA Board Chair Steven J. Stack, M.D. Photo courtesy of the American Medical Association.
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