by Janeth Vazquez
Southwest Medical Center is proud to congratulate its Marketing and Business Development team, led by Director Janeth Vazquez and Marketing Coordinator Rachel Downing, for being recognized with two prestigious Emerald Awards by the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators. The awards, which honor outstanding achievements in health care marketing and public relations, were presented at the 2025 Spring Conference on April 25 in Newton, Kansas.
This marks the second consecutive year that the SWMC Marketing Team has earned an Emerald Award, reflecting their continued leadership in advancing health education and outreach across the region. Southwest Medical Center received two Emerald Awards in the categories of Special Events and Website Redesign:
2024 SWMC Community Health Fair – Special Events
SWMC Website Redesign – Website Category
Each year, Janeth and Rachel dedicate countless hours to planning the SWMC Community Health Fair—securing sponsorships through grant writing, coordinating logistics, and managing every detail leading up to the event. Their efforts helped make the 2024 SWMC Community Health Fair the largest health fair in the region, attracting over 1,700 attendees and delivering more than 3,035 free exams.
Notably, this was the first year SWMC offered free lab screenings at the event—with over 1,430 screenings completed, doubling the number of total screenings provided compared to the previous year.
“This event is truly a team effort,” said Janeth Vazquez. “We’re incredibly grateful to our physicians, volunteers, and staff who give their time and expertise to make this possible. Without their support, we couldn’t serve the community in the way we do.”
She added, “Seward County has one of the highest uninsured rates in the state—nearly 20%. That means we have to work harder and think more creatively to ensure our residents have access to essential health services. Our goal is to give everyone the tools they need to stay healthy.”
The annual health fair focuses on breaking down barriers to care, including lack of insurance, transportation, and language accessibility. This year’s event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including the City of Liberal, the event’s Presenting Sponsor, and Apex Clean Energy, the Platinum Sponsor.
Amber Williams, SWMC CEO, praised the team’s accomplishments: “Congratulations to Janeth and Rachel on this well-deserved recognition. Their passion, innovation, and commitment to improving the health of our community are truly inspiring.”
In addition to their community outreach efforts, the marketing team was also recognized for the redesign of Southwest Medical Center’s website, launched in the summer of 2024. The updated site delivers an improved user experience and added convenience for patients, including the ability to pay bills online and access vital health services. The new website also features a comprehensive educational library, where community members can find free, trustworthy health information on a variety of topics.
Southwest Medical Center celebrates these achievements as a reflection of its mission to provide high-quality, accessible health care and resources to the region