Andrea Castell Health Care Leadership Award

​Project Access Northwest seeks nominations for its annual "Andrea Castell Health Care Leadership Award," presented to individuals who work for improved health care access for all members of our community.

Do you know a health care hero?

We are counting on you, our community, to identify the next recipient of the Andrea Castell Health Care Leadership Award. We know there are countless people making a difference in this region, and we’d like your help in recognizing them. Please share the good work of someone you’d like to nominate for the award.

About Andrea Castell

Co-founding staff member Andrea Castell, RN, BSN, MBA has devoted her life to health care and increasing access to appropriate care. As lead operations nurse at Project Access Northwest, she uses her vast expertise to help people get the care they need.

“Andrea is an integral part of our organization,” says Gary Renville, Executive Director. “Her commitment to our mission and vision is apparent in everything she does.”

Driven by her belief in health care access, Andrea remains an active champion for patients in need—and the specialists who serve them.

In honor of her years of service, we presented founding staff member and lead operations nurse Andrea Castell with the first annual Andrea Castell Health Care Leadership Award.

This award in Andrea’s name will be presented annually to individuals who work for improved health care access for all members of our community.

The 2022 award goes to…

We were delighted and inspired by the nominations we received in 2022.

Lise K. Alexander, MD, Pacific Medical Centers

Deborah Jefferson, RN, EvergreenHealth

Brian Knowles, Executive Director, Bailey-Boushay House

Sonja Maddox, MD, Pacific Medical Centers

Nancy Sugg MD, MPH, Associate Professor & Medical Director of Harborview and Pioneer Square Clinic

Kathleen Wilcox, Executive Director, African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry

Lisa Yohalem, Chief Executive Officer, HealthPoint, CHC

OUR WINNER: At our annual Strike Down Barriers to Health Care event, 2021 recipient Cassie Sauer, CEO of Washington State Hospital Association, presented the 2022 award to Deborah Jefferson, who recently retired from EvergreenHealth and her impressive nursing career. Congratulations!

Join us at this year's Strike Down Barriers to Health Care event to celebrate a new group of nominees and learn who will win this year's award! Buy your tickets and help connect our community's most vulnerable to the health care they need.