Good health often is taken for granted. So too is access to good health care.

But the people the Washington Health Foundation honored this week are renowned for doing what they can to improve the quality and access to good health. The foundation's mission is to improve the state's status as the 15th healthiest in the nation to the first.

Treuman Katz, chief executive officer for Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center for 26 years, was awarded the foundation's 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award. His tenure is marked by the expansion of Children's programs, its strong collaboration with other institutions and its reach throughout the Northwest.

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the hospital as 16th among pediatric hospitals in the nation.

A band of dedicated dentists, doctors, business leaders and others struck a blow for children's dental health with the Port Angeles City Council's decision to fluoridate the city water. After a series of bruising hearings and despite a pending lawsuit, the city began fluoridating its water.

The Clallam Citizens for Dental Health proposed fluoridation as a means to combat a much-higher-than-average rate of untreated dental decay in children. The group received the foundation's Healthy Systems Award.

The foundation's Healthy Living Award is only the latest honor for Elizabeth Thomas, an inductee into the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame. A few years ago, she retired from Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in Seattle's Central Area after 23 years but continues tireless health-care advocacy.

These award recipients well define the foundation's desire to recognize "leadership, innovation, collaboration and diversity in building health systems and promoting healthy living."