Public Health Official Awarded for Crisis Response
The Immunization Partnership recognized a Lubbock health director for innovative vaccination clinic tactics.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Philanthropy
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In September 2026, The Immunization Partnership presented the Ralph D. Feigin, MD Award for Excellence to Katherine Wells, director of the Lubbock Public Health District. The award honors leadership in vaccine education and advocacy.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights operational strategies for managing disease outbreaks through public-private partnerships and rapid infrastructure deployment. It emphasizes the role of scalable health responses in mitigating business disruptions caused by communicable disease spread.
The 16th Annual Luncheon hosted 300 participants to celebrate the award, which recognizes successful models like the drive-up clinics that averaged 20 to 30 vaccinations daily during the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak.
The players
Katherine Wells
Director of the Lubbock Public Health District and co-author of a CDC official report on public health responses.
The Immunization Partnership
A non-profit organization focused on promoting education and advocacy regarding vaccine-preventable diseases.
The details
To manage the 2025 measles outbreak, Wells integrated a drive-up MMR vaccination clinic with a social media campaign designed to improve public outreach. By partnering with The Immunization Partnership to distribute graphics, the health district optimized service delivery and patient flow. This model demonstrates how local agencies can adapt physical infrastructure and digital communication to maintain operational continuity during health crises.
Timeline
The Lubbock public health measles response took place in 2025.
Katherine Wells received the award in September 2026.
Four people died from a vaccine-preventable disease in Pennsylvania in the past two weeks.
Market Landscape
The award recognizes a specific operational pivot used during the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak to maintain public health. It follows a pattern of professional organizations validating crisis-management tactics that minimize service disruptions for local populations.
Operators should monitor local public health directives as indicators for potential operational adjustments during disease outbreaks. Reviewing internal response protocols for patient or customer interactions can help mitigate the impact of public health disruptions.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the value of rapid, adaptable service models when traditional brick-and-mortar operations face health-related strain. Operators should note these successes as a benchmark for improving their own organizational agility during regional health emergencies.
Further reading
For more on local community-focused initiatives, see Philanthropy.
More information
Learn more about organizational advocacy and educational resources on The Immunization Partnership website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
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