We are proud to celebrate Christopher E. Anderson, PhD, MSPH, a researcher with PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health, who has been named a recipient of the 2025 HER/NOPREN WIC Learning Collaborative Research Impact Award. This award honors outstanding contributions to WIC policy research and its real-world impact on maternal and child health.
Dr. Anderson was recognized for his study, WIC Service Use, Benefit Redemption, and Continued Participation Among Participants in California, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The research, co-authored with Catherine E. Yepez and Shannon E. Whaley, examines how WIC participants in California engage with services and benefits over time — findings that carry meaningful implications for how WIC programs are designed, delivered, and sustained to best support the families who rely on them.
The HER/NOPREN WIC LC Research Impact Awards are given annually to recognize rigorous, policy-relevant research that advances our understanding of how WIC programs can better serve young children, mothers, and families across the country. This year’s award ceremony brought together researchers, practitioners, and WIC advocates united by a shared commitment to using evidence to drive better outcomes.
At Heluna Health, we believe that good research doesn’t just live on a page — it shapes policy, strengthens programs, and ultimately improves lives. Dr. Anderson’s work is a powerful example of that belief in action, and we are proud to see it recognized on a national stage.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Anderson on this well-deserved honor.
Click here to learn more about the latest research from PHFE WIC.
