Dembosky named top health care journalist

The Association of Health Care Journalists has awarded KQED health reporter April Dembosky its top reporter prize as part of this year’s Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism.

Dembosky received the first place prize in the Beat Reporting category for her 2016 body of work.

In 2016, Dembosky’s reporting that exposed how some pharmaceutical companies doubled the price of Seconal, the drug used for aid-in-dying patients; how insurance companies have circumvented mental health laws, making it more difficult for patients to get the mental health care they need; and how the Affordable Care Act has complicated immigration concerns in California’s farming industry.

“Dembosky’s work shows the true range of a great health care reporter,” the judges noted. “In one year, she conducted a detailed investigation, broke important news in a closely watched area, and crafted original, human features.”

Dembosky covers health policy and public health for The California Report and KQED News.

Before joining KQED in 2013, April covered technology and Silicon Valley for The Financial Times and freelanced for NPR,Marketplace and The New York Times.

“April is such a distinguished journalist and a masterful storyteller,” says Holly Kernan, vice president of KQED News, in a statement. “It’s wonderful to see her talents recognized with this honor. KQED is so fortunate to have her working to serve our audiences.”