Each year, the AHHA Healthcare Champion Awards recognize individuals and teams taking progressive and effective steps to improve patient care and outcomes. Nominations for the 2025 awards are now open and will close June 1. Awardees will be honored at a special luncheon at the AHHA annual conference on September 16.​

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Annual Awards:

• The Golden Stethoscope Award recognizes an advance practice provider or physician who consistently demonstrates their commitment to supporting and/or leading efforts that result in measurable improvements in the delivery of safe patient care.
   

• Front-Line Staff Outstanding Performance Award recognizes an individual or team at a hospital or long-term care facility that has demonstrated above-and-beyond safety related performance in the workplace. This includes a wide range of workers such as nurses, nursing assistants, housekeepers, medical assistants, dietary service workers, and a host of others who work 24/7 to provide care. The nomination may describe a system or process improvement, or noteworthy front-line staff performance of safety practices.
   

• The Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality Award recognizes hospitals and/or long-term care facilities that have developed and implemented an innovative safety and/or quality process, project, or program, with measurably improved outcomes. This may include initiatives that integrate high-reliability principles, address social determinants of health and health equity, enhance patient family engagement, or contribute to workforce development.

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Other Awards:

Each year, when special circumstances warrant, AHHA's staff has the opportunity to give two awards to recognize extraordinary service beyond the award categories listed above. The Paton Award is given in honor of Dr. William Paton, MD an Orthopedic surgeon with the Alaska Native Tribal Consortium. During his 40+ years in orthopedic medicine, he has traveled the width and breadth of the land, set thousands of bones, performed thousands of surgeries, and given hope to generations of Alaskans. In 2022, AHHA established a new category of recognition in his honor, the Paton Award. This award will recognize physicians with 40 years or greater of medical service to Alaska residents.

 

The Beacon Award recognizes an individual or a team whose work has made a notable impact by shedding light on an issue, or by helping to address a significant need within Alaska's healthcare delivery system.

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If you would like to suggest a recipient for one of these awards, please email Jann Mylet at jmylet@alaskahha.org.