Alameda Health System Leader Receives Icon Award for Service

OAKLAND, Calif., September 19, 2025 — Sambo Ly, manager of interpreter services at Alameda Health System (AHS), has been honored with the prestigious Icon Award from Bay Area news station KPIX. This recognition celebrates her decades of dedicated service to refugees and community members within Alameda County.

The Icon Award is designed to highlight individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities. In an interview with KPIX reporter Sharon Chin, Ly shared her personal journey from childhood in Cambodia to her current role at AHS, where she serves a diverse patient population that often faces language barriers.

Impactful Leadership in Healthcare

Ly oversees AHS’ interpreter services department, which handles approximately 2,000 interpreter requests daily across 100 different languages. Many patients arrive with limited English proficiency, making the services essential for effective communication with healthcare providers. The department offers in-person interpretation in ten languages and remote access to interpreters in up to 300 languages.

Under Ly’s leadership, the department has introduced innovative tools such as iPads, which facilitate clearer conversations between patients and medical staff. James Jackson, CEO of AHS, emphasized the importance of language access, stating, “Language access is a cornerstone of our mission of caring, healing, teaching, and serving all.” He commended Ly’s leadership and compassion, ensuring that no patient is disadvantaged by language barriers.

A Journey of Resilience and Service

Ly’s commitment to service is deeply rooted in her personal history, marked by survival during the Khmer Rouge genocide. As a child, she and her brother were forced into labor camps. After a traumatic separation from her brother, Ly battled malaria and was determined to survive despite the dire conditions she witnessed in a hospital. Her experiences fueled her desire to pursue a career in healthcare.

After fleeing Cambodia with the help of refugee workers, Ly settled in the United States and began her journey with AHS. Her dedication extends beyond her professional duties; she organizes weekly traditional Cambodian dance classes for young girls and assists countless individuals with citizenship paperwork. As the Board Chair of Peralta Hacienda Park, she has spearheaded the annual Cambodian New Year celebration for the past 15 years, making it the largest Cambodian event in the Bay Area.

In expressing her gratitude for the Icon Award, Ly reflected on her experiences with language barriers, describing them as “an invisible disability.” She stated, “Once I had the opportunity to work at Alameda Health System, I saw an opportunity to give back to my community.” Ly dedicated her recognition to her colleagues in the interpreter services department, acknowledging their crucial role in providing compassionate language assistance that positively impacts patients’ lives.

For further information, please contact:

Eleanor Ajala
Manager, Media and Communications
Alameda Health System
(510) 421-9222
[email protected]

“I’m honored that this work is being recognized by KPIX, and I want to recognize my dedicated coworkers in the interpreter services department who provide compassionate language assistance to our patients.” — Sambo Ly