2025 Trailblazer Award Nominees
The ElevateMeD Trailblazer Award is awarded to individuals/organizations who are making extraordinary contributions within the world of healthcare. These leaders directly support the Scholars Program by providing our Scholars with a unique opportunity to engage intimately with them while learning more about their impact in healthcare. We formally recognize award recipients at our ElevateMeD events.
More about Nominees
Azalea City Links
The Links, Incorporated is an international, professional women's not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. This chapter has 80 members and is made up of community and civil rights leaders, business executives, lawyers, doctors, philanthropists and so much more. This chapter is keenly dedicated to health and human services and education and mentorship. Some of these examples include- Breast Cancer advocacy providing mammograms at no cost in partnership with Northside Hospital, Hosts the Atlanta Black Family Wellness Expo, Mentors hundreds of college students through the nsoro Educational Foundation, provides mentorship, snacks and fellowship for Morehouse College students during exam weeks, and hosts an annual international career symposium for the college- bound students at Benjamin E Mays High School.
Judge Hatchet
Judge Glenda A. Hatchett is not only a world-renown judge, but she is a prominent attorney with more than 40 years of experience which encompasses a multitude of legal responsibilities. Currently, Hatchett is Of Counsel with the law firm of Stewart Miller Simmons based in Atlanta, Georgia. Hatchett completed a prestigious federal clerkship in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, where she was the first Black clerk in that federal court. Hatchett then spent nearly 10 years at Delta Air Lines, where she was the airline's highest-ranking woman of color worldwide. Judge Hatchett has represented the families of Bobbie Kristina Brown and Philando Castille in wrongful death cases. Although she is nationally known for her law acumen, Judge Hatchet's heart truly belongs to the community. She is an advocate for eliminating health disparities in underserved communities, early detection of chronic diseases and an ambassador for all things good in the lives of Women. Hatchett has consistently shown her commitment to community development through her service on various nonprofit boards including: the National Board of Governors of the Boys and Girl Club of America; the Board of Advisors for Play Pumps International; the Leadership Circle for the After School Alliance and the Advisory Board for the Women’s Resource Center at Spelman College. Hatchett serves as the national spokesperson for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a non-profit volunteer organization that trains volunteers to represent abused and neglected children and is the recipient of their President’s Award.
Michele Gandy
A nurse by trade, Michele has dedicated her life to bettering through the community through working through health disparities and supporting marginalized/minority children in all aspects of their lives. Michele is a member of the Links Inc. and have served on many boards across Atlanta including, but not limited to St. Joseph's Hospital, Emory Healthcare. She also a founding member of Women with Heart (WWH). WWH is a volunteer support organization established in 2009 and is dedicated to raising scholarship funds for Morehouse School of Medicine, promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing community awareness about heart health and cardiovascular disease.
*President Auxiliary of the National Association
*Current Treasurer of the Atlanta Chapter of the Moles, Inc.
*Mother of the Year North Suburban Atlanta Chapter Of Jack and Jill.
*Active Member of Phi Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
*Chairperson of the Crystal Ball (Juvenile Arthritis Association Signature Event)
*President Azalea City (GA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. 2011-2015
*Past President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Society, Inc.