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For more than a decade, Leslie Allsopp, PhD, MPH, MSN, AE-C, has worked tirelessly to bring asthma services, resources and support to the community. Now she’s being honored by Cook Children’s Center for Community Health with the Outstanding Community Partner Award.

Allsopp, who is an assistant professor in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health and a principal investigator and faculty partner for Asthma 411 at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s SaferCare Texas, was honored recently by Becki Hale, EdD, MA, RDH, Cook Children’s Health Care System assistant vice president for the Center for Community Health.

“Being a part of the Greater Tarrant Area Asthma 411 Consortium has been a tremendous honor and pleasure,” Allsopp said. “It exemplifies what we can accomplish for community health through collaboration. Together, we have strengthened asthma services on over 350 campuses, and lessons learned are being applied to initiatives across the state. I am deeply grateful to Cook Children’s and all our partners for making this work possible.”

The award acknowledges community collaborators who advance initiatives to another level beyond what was requested, provide extra leadership and effort and provide resources to deliver key messages to children and families.

Over 6.1 million kids are affected by asthma. Asthma 411 is a comprehensive, evidence-based program in Tarrant County provided by a consortium that includes UNTHSC, Cook Children’s and JPS. Asthma 411 partners with schools to strengthen asthma services, including stocked medications for respiratory distress, professional development, and asthma education tools for children and families.

These education tools help children and families better understand asthma better. When families understand asthma better, they can help their children feel more in control of breathing and improve asthma symptoms.

Hale noted in the award that Allsopp “embodies a collaborative spirit for the betterment of organizations and the children they serve, and thoughtfully engages in multiple areas of Cook Children’s HealthCare System, including C4CH, physicians and care providers, Neighborhood Health Centers, asthma educators and more to meet their needs.”

“The entire SaferCare Texas team is so proud of Dr. Allsop’s achievements and highly deserved recognition,” said Justin Burton, director of SaferCare Texas. “Her unwavering dedication and perseverance to improve the health of our children is an inspiration to everyone who meets her, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.”

Allsopp is also an affiliate faculty with UNTHSCs Center for Health Policy. Her work in public health began more than 30 years. For the last decade, she has been involved with the adaptation, piloting and expansion of the Asthma 411 model in North Texas, and she is active in state efforts to improve asthma outcomes.

“Allsopp is a true example of applying expertise in public health and experience in community-based programs who pushes the needle forward and thinks of solutions to better the lives of the children with the chronic health disease, asthma,” said Dr. Priya Bui, TCOM’s chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Women’s Health. “She does her work with a deep commitment and passion to help others. This is exemplified in her work with Asthma 411 with SaferCare Texas.”

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