Meet Our Past WebMD Health Heroes

As catalysts for change, the couple makes global health a priority. Their foundation works to defeat severe poverty, decrease health disparities, and improve access to education for all.

For the past 35 years, the organization has created and delivered medically-tailored meals for people in New York’s metro area who are living with serious illnesses. In May, God’s Love will drop off its 25 millionth scratch-made meal.

As an epidemiologist and founder of Cure Violence, his life’s work has been devoted to stopping worldwide societal offenses.

The author, professor, and sociologist is called the “Father of Environmental Justice” because of his tireless efforts to bring attention to environmental racism and climate justice in minority communities.

At age 7, crossing the border undocumented from Mexico to the U.S. was a life-changing experience. Now, she serves as a health educator to help immigrants with everything from mental maladies to career goals.

With the high rate of maternal mortality affecting the black community, she is at the forefront. As co-director and research lead for the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, putting a spotlight on this issue and implementing change is her mission.

Watching his mother and two uncles go through chemotherapy inspired this cancer researcher to create less toxic treatments that do the job better. Three major discoveries and a Nobel Prize later, he’s nowhere near done.

As a young girl she attended cancer fundraisers. That led to a career in immunology research and ultimately to patents for six cancer vaccines.

When her husband was the patient, she learned how confusing the medical system can be. Now she advocates for every patient she treats.

As a breast cancer survivor, she knows what it’s like to face the disease head-on. Now she helps others make plans for the future.

This Oscar winner is lending her name -- and personal experience -- to an all-out effort to change the way doctors and hospitals approach lymphedema. In her spare time, she’s directing a new breast cancer documentary.

After losing their mother to clear cell sarcoma, the singer-songwriter and his sister wanted to honor her. Learn more about the foundation, which sponsors research into this rare type of cancer, and the woman who inspired it.

She comes from a family best known for politics, but this author, radiologist and now, blogger, turned her focus on cancer instead. She’s also a philanthropist who leads two nonprofit organizations focused on prevention.

When she couldn’t find a book on her rare condition, she wrote one herself. What happened next left her teary eyed.

She invented a device that diagnoses diabetic retinopathy without the need for an extensive eye exam, particularly useful in developing countries or rural areas. That’s not even her first invention.

This budding psychiatrist has participated in research efforts aimed at diagnosing and treating those with developmental disabilities. See what inspires her.

She’s a constant presence in her students’ lives from day one of medical school until they leave for their residency. See how she’s enabling them for success.

Jenna Wolfe, co-anchor of Fox Sports’ First Things First, hosted WebMD’s Health Heroes Awards presentation January 22 in New York City.

The inspirational story behind his invention that will help people with type 1 diabetes take control of their disease.

How this early adopter of palliative care is transforming the way every nursing school in the U.S. teaches the subject.

Why this teen coder developed a smartphone app to help teens think twice before they post mean thoughts online.

How these Hilarity for Charity co-founders use laughter to fight Alzheimer's disease.

Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts hosted an evening to remember in New York City.