FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Connecticut Department of Public Health
October 18, 2010 Contact: William Gerrish
(860) 509-7270
Hartford – West Hartford resident Wendy H. Furniss was presented with the 2010 Connecticut Association of Not-for-profit Providers for the Aging (CANPFA) Rick Wallace Award of Merit on October 12 at CANPFA’s 50th Annual Meeting at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam. Ms. Furniss is employed as Chief of the Health Care Systems Branch for the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
“Wendy is truly deserving of this prestigious award given her remarkable leadership and contributions to public health,” stated Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin. “She is an outstanding example of the modern leader, using both her nursing and executive skills serving the elderly and disabled citizens across the continuum of care in Connecticut.”
Ms. Furniss is a Registered Nurse who received her Baccalaureate degree from Duke University, her Master’s degree in nursing and Certificate in Public Health from the University of Connecticut. She holds professional membership in the American and Connecticut Nurses Associations, Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi. She is certified by the American Nurses Association in gerontologic nursing.
As Branch Chief, Ms. Furniss is responsible for the management of federal and state regulatory activities for all Connecticut health care facilities, including both institutional and community-based entities. She also oversees the licensing and discipline of 56 healthcare professions, as well as license applications for environmental and emergency medicine professions.
The Rick Wallace Award of Merit is for an individual whose service, project work, committee work or a public policy effort is worthy of special recognition and is presented annually to an individual who has performed outstanding service for CANPFA or on behalf of its members.
Founded in 1961, CANPFA is Connecticut's leading membership association of not-for-profit and Quality First aging services organizations. Committed to excellence and to innovation, CANPFA is nationally recognized for expertise in aging services issues related to long term care, senior housing and supportive services. CANPFA is dedicated to creating the future of aging services.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.
-###-