News

The National Center for Healthcare Leadership July 14 announced that Michelle Hood, AHA executive vice president and COO, is the recipient of NCHL's 2026 Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award. The award celebrates individuals who advance health and well-being through their efforts in leadership and innovation.

Following an introduction from Michelle Hood, AHA executive vice president and COO, moderator Chris DeRienzo, M.D., AHA senior vice president and chief physician executive, led a panel discussion July 14 at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit with Betty Chu, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Advocate Health; Christine Donohue-Henry, M.D., chief population health officer of ChristianaCare; and Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, and AHA chair-elect.

An op-ed from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack published July 10 by Fierce Healthcare explains why healthcare affordability is driven by several factors.

The AHA July 13 commented on proposals by the Office of Management and Budget and other federal agencies to revise the Uniform Grants Regulation governing federal financial assistance.

The American Society for Health Care Engineering July 13 announced 70 healthcare facilities as winners of the 2026 Energy to Care Sustainability Champions Award, recognizing healthcare facilities that significantly reduce their energy use and emissions.

Heidi Bray, DNP, nurse practitioner and hospitalist at Providence St.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack July 12 opened the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit, which is anchored by the theme of “Redesigning Care Delivery and Operating Models for the Future.”

The AHA Board of Trustees Board of Trustees has elected Laura Kaiser

AHA Board Chair Marc Boom, M.D., took the stage July 13 to introduce AHA award winners and a town hall discussion on navigating the 2026 political landscape.

During a panel discussion July 12 on scaling innovation, moderator Joy Rhoden, senior vice president and executive director of the AHA’s division of health outcomes and care transformation, engaged panelists AHA Immediate-past Chair Tina Freese Decker, Corewell Health president and CEO; Michael Slubowski, Trinity Health president and CEO; Amy Perry, Banner Health president and CEO; and Erik Wexler, Providence president and CEO, in discussion of how the leaders are driving change, strengthening system performance and preparing their organizations for the next era of healthcare.

Throughout the first two days of the Summit, healthcare leaders shared innovations from their organizations, including discussing how to operationalize artificial intelligence but also how to humanize patient care.

AHA Chair Marc Boom, M.D., presented three AHA awards during the 2026 Leadership Summit, recognizing hospitals and health systems for innovation, advancing health and excellence. 

The Food and Drug Administration July 10 released a proposed rule that would modernize drug establishment registration requirements, with implications for pharmaceutical manufacturers and health systems that depend on a stable medication supply chain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 843 cases of cyclosporiasis across 31 states, with 86 people hospitalized.

The Health Resources and Services Administration has announced new funding available to healthcare providers in rural areas through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Programs.

The AHA shares the goal of making healthcare more affordable and accessible. We recently released actionable, achievable strategies that will help drive care transformation and make care more affordable.

The AHA’s American Society for Health Care Risk Management will host its 2026 Learning Symposium July 20-23 in Chicago. Risk professionals will gather for an immersive learning experience that will include five learning pathways, networking and opportunities to earn contact hours.

The AHA July 9 announced that the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health System in Charleston, S.C., is the 2026 recipient of the AHA Quest for Quality Prize.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an early alert for specific lots of BD ChloraPrep Applicators by Medline because of a potential breach of sterility in the packaging, due to wrinkles in the paper lidding which may extend to the seal area.

Most hospital outreach laboratories have until July 31 to report required private payer clinical diagnostic laboratory data for services furnished during the first six months of 2025 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.