At a conference in Washington DC last week, the Georgetown Center for Children and Families (CCF) initiated an annual award for health care advocacy.  WCCF’s research director, Jon Peacock, is the first recipient of the “Bulldog” award, which is named after the Georgetown University mascot.

CCF says the award is for Jon’s “determination in the face of adversity” and “dedicated service to children and families.”  However, we suspect there may have been other factors; here’s our “top five” list of theories for why Jon got the Bulldog award:

5) Resemblance – It seems pretty clear the award  was given to the health care advocate who bears the closest resemblance to the Georgetown mascot, Jack the Bulldog, shown in the picture with Jon.  (Jack is the one in the foreground.) 4) Demeanor – Jon growls menacingly whenever someone threatens BadgerCare, or gets near his dinner.

3) Cute, cuddly and frisky – Those adjectives describe numerous breeds of dogs, but not Jon or bulldogs.

2) Perseverance– Jon has been working on health care policy since 1987, which is 189 dog years.

1) Teamwork – Most importantly, Jon has had the skilled and energetic assistance of a large pack of advocates – inside and outside WCCF – who have worked doggedly to improve access to health care for Wisconsin’s children and families.

Whatever the reason, WCCF is proud that Jon received this honor, which reflects very positively on the hard work of many BadgerCare and ACA advocates in Wisconsin.