Dr. Benjamin, Congratulations on receiving this amazing award. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see you getting this well-deserved recognition after your decades of service cultivating public health in California and beyond. You always made TB control work feel manageable and provided a safe-space to learn and grow. Words can’t begin to express how grateful I am to you for that. While you have taught me so much about TB, more importantly, you have provided me with an exemplar of how to be phenomenal teacher, practitioner, and public health advocate while still holding on to your humanity and compassion for people no matter. I always knew you had done and accomplished so much more than you would let on, but reading about all of your achievements, you embody what it really means to be humble. It was a privilege and an honor to get to work with you. Thank you for everything you have done for the public health community, Sonoma County, and me.
Warmly,
Michelle Heredia, former Public Health Nurse, Sonoma County Disease Control