Spotlighting Our Employees at the Fourth Annual Social Impact Awards
At Sanofi, we know that community is a powerful thing and that what we give back to those around us enhances the lives of our patients, neighbors, loved ones, and ourselves. We believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, to be healthy, to be an innovator and to be part of a flourishing community – and that’s why we take pride in recognizing our colleagues who go above and beyond to make an impact in their communities with our Sanofi Social Impact Awards.
Our 2023 awardees were nominated by their colleagues for their continued commitment to community service, mentorship, and inequities in health and science education. Our winners showcase the breadth of ways that our Sanofi colleagues are giving back, from groups dedicated to fostering the next generation of STEM leaders and a more equitable health future to dedicated individuals making a positive impact on those around them.
Health Equity Award: Helping to advance solutions intended to reduce barriers to quality health or healthcare.
Winner: Health Equity Advocacy Acceleration Core Team
- Angie Bricco, Head, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy
- Madison Blagrove, PharmD, Postdoctoral Fellow, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy
- Eric Racine, PharmD, MBA, Vice President & Head, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy
- Bernadette Wang, PharmD, Senior Director & Head, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Neurology
- Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, Head, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Oncology
- Cassandra Goodman, Postdoctoral Fellow, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy
- Melissa Chiarolanza, Operations Lead, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy
- Jessica Pansini, Head, US Social Media
- Matt Reynolds, Senior Corporate Counsel, US Vaccines
- Martha Knittel, Compliance Officer
- Subarna Malakar, Head, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, North America and Global Specialty Care
- April Ruggiero, Senior Manager, Internal Communications
- Courtney Peters, Public Affairs, US Vaccines
- Rachel Solomon, Associate Director, US Public Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Oncology
The Health Equity Advocacy Acceleration Core Team works to bring together patient advocacy groups from a range of therapeutic areas to share best practices and resources that can advance health equity in our communities, while simultaneously amplifying patient stories. Among their accomplishments over the past year, the team launched the Health Equity Acceleration Awards. The awards assess new ideas from the advocacy community and provide funding to organizations exploring ten hard-to-solve health disparity challenges across multiple therapeutic areas.
STEM Education Equity Award: Helping to build the knowledge and skills of teachers and/or students.
Winner: Oncology Social Committee
- Zohreh Amoozgar, Principal Scientist, Immuno-Oncology, Cell Therapy
- Laura Powers, Scientist, Pharmacology
- Samantha Stewart, Senior Associate Scientist, In virto-In vivo
- William Lythgoe, Senior Manager of Master Planning, Global Real Estate
- Lucie Rochard, External Engagement Program Lead
The Oncology Social Committee created the Model Pharma program to educate students about drug discovery and careers in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on research and development (R&D). The program has been successfully implemented with students from organizations including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Eastern MA and interns from the Harvard Family Van Mobile Clinic, providing them with firsthand experiences into patient services and the drug development process. Future plans involve expanding the program to engage Sanofi employees and incorporate mentoring sessions and workshops to continue to empower the next generation.
Local People, Local Priorities Award: Positively impacting important issues in local communities.
Winners:
- Corinne Moran, Principal Manufacturing Scheduler
- Jim Kuzmak, Region/Country Category Manager and Buyer
- Adam Edwards, Field Reimbursement Education Liaison, Market Access
- Stephanie Thomas, Head, Purchase-to-Pay Services
- Walt Kosar, Deputy Director, Marketing & Sales Training, VaxServe
- Antwaun Cook, Area Business Manager, Rare Disease
Corinne Moran has dedicated herself to fostering children in need. Her journey began when she witnessed children being taken away from their parents due to substance abuse. Despite the challenging nature of the role, Corinne has opened her home to approximately 20 children, ranging from four months to 14 years old. She balances her responsibilities as a foster parent with being a parent for her biological children and her career at Sanofi.
Jim Kuzmak has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the past 28 years. Firefighting has been part of his life for as long as he can remember with his family’s longstanding ties to the fire service. Passionate about teaching and mentoring, Jim also spends his time training and mentoring firefighters, supporting local fire departments, and volunteering at Camp Freedom, a non-profit organization that provides healing and outdoor adventures for Veterans and First Responders. Read more on his story here.
As a former player in the National Football League (NFL), Adam Edwards is involved as a board member of the NFL Players Association - Oklahoma Chapter where he supports annual fundraising for scholarships benefitting student athletes who demonstrate academic and community service excellence. His commitment extends through his work as a Mayoral-Appointee overseeing a trust for economic development and the Metropolitan Area Projects program capital investment initiatives in Oklahoma City. Adam also serves as a Pink Tie Guy with The Susan G. Komen Foundation, raising awareness for breast cancer.
Stephanie Thomas participates in Sanofi’s "A Million Conversations" program, which aims to improve healthcare for all through meaningful dialogue with patients and healthcare professionals. She also serves as a mentor to fellow employees, providing guidance for their professional growth. Stephanie’s dedication to supporting others extends beyond her workplace community, volunteering with St. Joseph's School for the Blind, Sarah's Daughters, BLESC, and Safe & Sound Somerset.
Walt Kosar is known as a champion of community engagement among his colleagues, consistently advocating for local organizations and volunteer opportunities. He strives to better the office and Sanofi community. Walt has coordinated volunteer initiatives with the Boys & Girls Club and the Outreach Center for Community Resources, focusing on back-to-school needs and supporting local new moms. He has also helped coordinate support for local families in need around the holiday season. Walt will be leaving big shoes for colleagues to fill when he retires in April 2024 after 23 years of service at Sanofi.
Antwaun Cook dedicates his time and efforts to various volunteer initiatives, from ensuring basic health and hygiene for his community to providing mentorship for improved economic opportunities. As the President of the Charlotte Chapter of the National Sales Network, Antwaun assists sales and marketing professionals in the job search process. Antwaun has also organized charity events, including a sleep-out to raise awareness and collect donations for the homeless, as a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Read more about his story here.
Tony Whalen Mentorship Award: Named after our colleague who lost his life due to complications from COVID-19. Tony exemplified the spirit of service and giving of himself to others.
Winner: Beth Brooks, Head of Patient Insights & Behavioral Sciences
Beth Brooks is a role model for all, demonstrating leadership through tireless volunteer efforts while living with two rare diseases. As a volunteer leader for the Capable & Able Network employee resource group at Sanofi, Beth connects individuals to clinical trials that may help improve their health-related quality of life. She also recently completed her master’s in public health (MPH) at Emory where she recognized a need for Applied Practice opportunities before entering the workforce, and subsequently created an internship at Sanofi for two students. Beth has also volunteered for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America organizations for the past 15 years, serving as a Troop Leader, among other roles. Despite challenges of living with rare diseases, she remains a catalyst for positive change and giving back to the community.
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