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WebMD Health Heroes

Meet Our 2011 Health Heroes

Each year, we celebrate visionary Americans who met a health challenge and gave back to others in an inspiring way.

To nominate your own Health Hero, see below.

2011 Health Heroes

Darell Hammond

Darell Hammond

A childhood steeped in outdoor fun made Darell Hammond acutely aware of an ever-shrinking "geography of play" for today's youth. To fight back, he has helped more than a million volunteers in communities across the country build playgrounds for children.

Kelly Young

Kelly Young

Once she finally got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, this Florida mother was surprised to find little accurate, easy-to-understand information about RA on the Internet. In response, she created both a website and a foundation to teach patients and doctors about the disease.

Thomas Moody, MD

Thomas Moody, MD

When he learned that Alabama received a failing grade for its prostate cancer treatment, Birmingham-based urologist Thomas Moody, MD, took matters into his own hands. He offered free screenings across the state and also helped pass legislation to see that insurance companies cover such screenings.

Ellen Beck, MD

Ellen Beck, MD

Devoted to helping the medically underserved and teaching medical students to practice in a respectful, humanistic way, Ellen Beck, MD, launched Student-Run Free Clinics in San Diego that are now models for similar clinics across the country.

WebMD's Gift

This year, WebMD awarded $2,500 to each Health Hero to be used for their foundation or project. Click on the tabs to find out how they plan to spend their prize.

Darell Hammond

Darell Hammond

"I am thrilled to be honored as a 2011 WebMD Health Hero and would like to thank everyone involved for recognizing that play is critical to a child's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. Your generous contribution to KaBOOM! will help us ensure that every child in America lives within walking distance of a great place to play."

— Darell Hammond

Nominate Your 2012 Health Hero Here!

For this year's winners, WebMD the Magazine's editors seek exceptional people who move and inspire you.

Who is a Health Hero candidate? Patients, doctors, nurses, community leaders, and family members who met a medical diagnosis or situation with courage, underwent (or gave) treatment, and then gave back to others in a way that improves health for everyone.

To nominate a hero, please submit his or her true story by Friday, August 17, 2012.

Winners' Archive

© 2012 WebMD the Magazine. All rights reserved.

WebMD the Magazine

WebMD the Magazine

Each year, WebMD's Health Heroes are announced in the pages of the November/December issue of WebMD the Magazine.

Want to Nominate a Health Hero?

The editors of WebMD the Magazine seek heartlifting, true stories about people who recently overcame a health or medical challenge, then gave back to others in an inspiring way.