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Health Care Heroes Awards and Summit
Date & Time
Details coming soon!Event Location
The Health Care Heroes Awards & Summit recognizes excellence, promote innovation, educates the region on health care issues and honors the efforts of organizations and individuals making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Central Penn region.
Nomination Deadline: January 12, 2027
Application Deadline: January 26, 2027
Save the Date
April 2027
Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel
4650 Lindle Rd
Harrisburg PA
Reserve Your Sponsorship Today
Sponsorship benefits include a table for your guests, the right to use the event logo, multimedia marketing opportunities and much more depending on the sponsorship level you choose. This event is limited attendance. If seats are available after the sponsorship deadline, a limited number of individual tickets will go on sale. Tables are only available with sponsorship.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits please contact your account manager or email [email protected].
If you have questions about this awards event, please email [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nomination process and the steps to take?
Once the online nomination form is completed an automated email will be sent to the individual nominated (the email address entered in the “Nominee Email” field) and a submission receipt will be sent to the email placed in the “Nominator’s Email” field.
In order for the nominee to continue with the process they must fill out the application form by the application deadline listed in the automated email and on the corresponding event landing page.
We do also suggest that up to three letters of recommendation be uploaded to https://www.cpbj.com/recommendation-letter-form/ by the application deadline to be included in the nominee’s judging packet as supporting materials. This is not a requirement, but an added benefit.
Can I save the nomination or application forms while I’m working on them?
Unfortunately, at this time you cannot, but we’re working to fix that. In the meantime, we suggest either filling out the forms on a separate sheet of paper and/Word Doc first or be prepared to spend some time in the form.
If I’m an honoree, do I need to purchase a ticket?
You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself if you are an honoree. All other attendees must purchase a ticket. Please, note that all CPBJ events are limited attendance based on location. Honorees and sponsors are guaranteed tickets. Individual tickets will only go on sale if space is available after sponsorship deadlines.
What is included in sponsorship packages?
Sponsorship opportunities to include a table for your guests, multimedia marketing, logo usage and much more depending on the level your company selects. For more sponsorship information and benefits please contact your account manager or email [email protected].
Can I buy an ad in the publication?
Please contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner to place an add or purchase a sponsorship package.
What are the different categories? See below:
Acupuncture Specialist
This award honors individuals whose impeccable performance in acupuncture goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Advancement in Innovation and Health care
This honors an organization principally responsible for a scientific discovery or for the development of a new process, device or a service that can save or improve the quality of life for a large number of people.
Allied Health Hero
This honors a non-physician professional practicing in allied health who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit families in our local communities. Examples include: Physician Assistants, lab technicians, phlebotomists, chemotherapy technicians, CNAs, hospice workers, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and radiology technicians.
Chiropractor
This award recognizes individuals whose impeccable performance in chiropractic care goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Community Outreach/Education Hero
This honors an individual or organization that reaches outside of their normal sphere of business to focus attention on a health care issue or to solve a community health problem.
Dental Specialist
This award honors dental specialists whose impeccable performance goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Eye Care Specialist
This award honors eye care specialists whose impeccable performance goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
First Responder Hero
This honors individuals such as the military, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and police for their professional achievement and community involvement in their line of duty.
Lifetime Achievement Hero
This award is presented to one individual for his/her lifetime career of advancing the health care of our region through heroic acts, mentoring, compassion, honor and integrity.
Management
This award recognizes an individual who serves in a management role in a health care institution. This person should have made measurable positive contributions to his or her organization. Factors to be judged include evidence of measurable results as well as testimonials from peers and administrators.
Massage Therapist
This award recognizes individuals whose impeccable performance in massage therapy goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Mental Health Caregiver Hero
This honors an individual or organization that provides mental health support and counseling services to individuals and families in our local communities.
Nurse of the Year
This honors a nurse or nurse practitioner whose performance is considered exemplary by patients and doctors and provides a model of professionalism to peers.
Nurse Practitioner of the Year
This award honors a nurse practitioner who has performed in exemplary ways. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers, and patients.
Occupational Therapist
This award recognizes individuals whose impeccable performance in occupational therapy goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Physical Therapist
This award recognizes individuals whose impeccable performance in physical therapy goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
Physician Assistant of the Year
This honors a physician assistant who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit in our local communities.
Physician of the Year
This honors a physician who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit in our local communities.
Senior Care Hero
This honors an individual or organization committed to advancing the health and wellness of senior citizens in our local communities.
Special Needs Hero
This honors an individual or organization invested in special needs care for adults and/or children and making a difference to families in our local communities.
Volunteer of the Year
This honors non-payroll individuals who reach out with time or skills to help patients or health care providers.
Workplace Wellness Program Hero
This honors an organization for a company-wide wellness program, healthy work environment, ergonomics program, or other health-related activities benefiting employees. This award recognizes individuals whose impeccable performance in massage therapy goes above and beyond in the workplace. Factors to be judged include patient satisfaction and evidence of performance effectiveness, including testimonials from superiors, peers and patients.
2026 Heath Care Heroes
Advancements and Innovation in Health Care
Dr. Brian Pollak
WellSpan Health
Erika Swift
Penn State College of Medicine
Trauma Surgery Unit, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Allied Health Hero
Patricia Crawford, RN, BS, MS, DD
Hamilton Health Center
Penn State Health Child Life & Integrative Therapies
Community Outreach and Education Hero
Leah Franklin
Freedom House 2.0 – UPMC
Christine Hendrickson
Clinic for Special Children
Katie Savory
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Dental Specialist
Michael Verber
Verber Dental Group
Lifetime Achievement
Nse Akpe
Hamilton Health Center
Yvette M. Brown, M.D., FACOG
Keystone Rural Health/Keystone Women’s Care
Pamela Smith
Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, Hershey
Management
Kathleen Balakier
Highmark Inc.
Nathan Erway, MBA
Verber Dental Group
Eunice Maingi
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Velkis Ramirez
Hamilton Health Center
Penney Sonnemann
UPMC Harrisburg NICU
Adam Updegraff
WellSpan
Joseph J. Wysock III
Penn State Health
Nurse of the Year
Cassie Appleby
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Kelly Garber, BSN, RN, RNC-OB
UPMC Harrisburg
Ellen Guido, BSN RN CEN SANE-A
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center
Maria Kelly
Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital
Teresa Lee, RN CHPN, CHPPN
Choices Healthcare
Nurse Practitioner of the Year
Anthony Hancock
Cardiovascular Experts of PA
Occupational Therapist
Kimberly Tanish
Central Penn College
Physical Therapist
Chris Borsa
OSS Health
Karin Lee
WellSpan Rehabilitation – Penn National Health Center – Fayetteville
Physician of the Year
Bharath Balu, Ph.D., M.D., FAAD
Dermatology Partners
Barbara Black
Hamilton Health Center
Vincent J. Carson, M.D.
Clinic for Special Children
Dr. Nirmal Joshi
Joshi Health Foundation
Dr. Ronald Lippe
UPMC & Orthopedic Institute of PA (OIP)
Joshua Rhodes, M.D.
UPMC
Dr. Faiz Shariff
WellSpan Health
Senior Care Hero
Sarah Brown
Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community
Volunteer of the Year
Michael Harris
Hamilton Health Center
Dixie McCauley
Choices Healthcare
Workplace Wellness Program of the Year
WellSpan Health Workplace Wellbeing Program
Details coming soon!
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