Watkins-Saunders Award

Established in 2012 to honor and celebrate the lives and work of Dr. Levi Watkins and Dr. Elijah Saunders, the Watkins-Saunders Award is given annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to equitable health and addressing gaps in health outcomes through clinical or medical work and community improvements.

Congratulations to our 2025 Watkins-Saunders Award Recipient!

Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, RN, PhD, MHS, BSN, FPCNA, FAAN, FAHA
Professor
Associate Dean, Research
Director for Local/Global Reciprocal Innovation
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity

Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah is a renowned cardiovascular nurse epidemiologist with national and international recognition. Her research focuses on reducing cardiovascular disease risk among African populations both in the United States and Africa through community-engaged research and implementation science. With expertise in immigrant health, global health, cardiovascular disease epidemiology, and social determinants of health, Dr. Commodore-Mensah leads groundbreaking studies to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

As President and Co-founder of the Ghanaian-Diaspora Nursing Alliance (G-DNA), she works to advance nursing and healthcare in Ghana. Dr. Commodore-Mensah directs the Global Cardiovascular Health Equity Lab and co-directs the Cardiometabolic Health Interest Group at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Through her research, leadership, mentorship and advocacy, she continues to make significant strides in advancing cardiovascular health equity and promoting better health outcomes for African communities worldwide. Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah continues to serve as an inspiring mentor to many and the American Heart Association is proud to recognize her as the recipient of the 2025 Watkins-Saunders Award.

SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, June 19th | 12:00 PM ET

Please join us for a virtual celebration to honor Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah as the
2025 Watkins-Saunders Award Recipient.

The 2025 Watkins-Saunders Award is presented by:

Make a Donation in Dr. Commodore-Mensah's Honor

Cor Vitae Society
Drs. George & Deborah Bittar

Friends of Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah
Dr. Myron & Mrs. Linda Weisfeldt

The Beat Goes On
David & Julie Dembert

2024 Watkins-Saunders Award Recipient

Neil M. Meltzer, MPH, MHA
President & CEO
LifeBridge Health

2024 Virtual Program Honoring Neil Meltzer

Watkins-Saunders Award Winners

2012: Dr. Levi Watkins and Dr. Elijah Saunders 
2013: Dr. Lisa Cooper 
2014: Dr. Claudia Baquet 
2015: Jeanne Charleston 
2018: Dr. Martha Hill 
2019: Dr. Thomas LaVeist 
2020: Dr. Athol Morgan 
2021: Dr. Myron Weisfeldt 
2022: Dr. Donald E. Wilson 
2023: Dr. Barbara Hutchinson
2024: Neil M. Meltzer, MPH, MHA