OAKLAND: Two Health Care Advocates Receive Award

      "Two men working to improve health care" in the Oakland area are recipients of this year's Citizen of the Year Award. Jointly bestowed by the New Oakland Committee and the Oakland Tribune, the award will be presented to James Falaschi, board chair of Summit Medical Center, and Dr. Michael LeNoir, a pediatrician and allergist "known nationally for his expertise in asthma problems in inner cities." Falaschi was chosen for his decade of volunteer service in health care. The Oakland Tribune reports that he established a Summit committee "to promote expansion of the health care industry in Alameda County" and has worked to help the "public understand managed care." Falaschi is also an honorary board member of Oakland-based St. Mary's Center and Summit's Ethnic Health Institute; he also sits on the Health Industries Committee of the Alameda County Economic Development Alliance Board. LeNoir was given the award for his work in bringing health care to ethnic and minority groups. The Oakland Tribune reports that LeNoir is president of the Ethnic Health Network, an outreach program that uses a weekly radio program, television programs and public service announcements to educated ethnic groups -- including African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Latinos -- about health issues affecting them. LeNoir was instrumental in creating the Ethnic Health Institute at Summit (Scully, 6/10).