Karen Pesce named 2007 Outstanding Health Educator

 Karen Pesce , Executive Director of MORE HEALTH, Inc in Tampa Florida was named 2007 Outstanding Health Educator during the Awards Presentation on June 25, 2007 at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.

Karen began working with MORE HEALTH 14 years ago. She began her career at MORE HEALTH as a classroom teacher and curriculum writer. Recognizing her passion and ability, she was brought into the office where she not only continued to teach, but scheduled high school and middle school presentations and filled the role of Events Coordinator. Soon Karen was promoted to Director and later Executive Director. Under Karen’s direction, MORE HEALTH grew from teaching 74,809 students health and injury prevention education, to reaching over 201,000 students in Hillsborough and Pinellas County during the 2006-07 school year. Furthermore, under Karen’s direction, MORE HEALTH went statewide, selling many of the MORE HEALTH lessons to the Florida Department of Health, Area Health Education Centers, and school nurses. Karen embraces new opportunities on the horizon including many collaborative community partnerships, which will enable MORE HEALTH to reach an even larger audience with their health and injury prevention message.

Karen’s excitement in tackling a new challenges is contagious and you can often find her and her staff dancing, clapping or jumping around at a new idea, song, or a child’s letter. Her passion is seen in the unique partnerships formed to help ensure health and injury prevention education is available to any student that needs it. Two major competing hospitals, Tampa General Hospital and All Children’s Hospital, are both on the MORE HEALTH team working together to provide MORE HEALTH the resources needed to teach the children in the Tampa Bay area. She is able to bring together many different partners and agencies for a common cause – educating children how to be healthy and safe.