The Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) kicked off its annual meeting in early November, publicly recognizing several individuals for their outstanding contributions in the health care field. The IHA was formed over 100 years ago and operates on the premise of advocating for Hoosier health care providers and leading patient safety initiatives. The annual meeting continues to be a way to recognize those who work to make Indiana a healthy place to live.
IHA Award of Merit
Dr. Kristina Box was honored with IHA's Award of Merit. Dr. Box was named Indiana State Health Commissioner by Governor Holcomb back in 2017. She earned her undergraduate degree at Indiana University in Bloomington and her medical doctorate at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. A practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in Indianapolis for 30 years, she started her career at Community Hospitals of Indianapolis in 1987 as a private practitioner with Clearvista Women's Care. Since 2015, she has served as the Physician Lead for Community Health Network's Women's Service Line. In this role, she built the first multi-disciplinary women's center in Community Health Network, developed critical partnerships with area children's hospitals to improve care and decrease health care costs, and led efforts to ensure that low-income women receive the important free health screenings they need.
Along with Dr. Box's many other roles, she was a visionary leader through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Box and her team provided the highest level of professionalism and perseverance in hospitals' darkest hour. Dr. Box and her team helped secure essential PPE, disseminated vital information and clinical guidance, built a statewide lab testing network, and more. They partnered closely with hospitals to ensure a bed was available for every Hoosier and quickly stood up an incredibly well-organized statewide campaign to vaccinate Hoosiers once vaccines became available.
Yet even during this challenging time, she never lost focus on the need to transform care for Hoosier moms and babies. Through her efforts, Indiana has made tremendous progress in reducing infant and maternal mortality.
Douglas J. Leonard Indiana Caregiver of the Year Award
Dr. Matthew Tucker, DO with Deaconess Health System, was honored with the Caregiver of the Year Award. He was named the 2022 Physician of the Year in an open nomination process among all employees and physicians of Deaconess Health System. Dr. Tucker accepted his current leadership role at the end of 2019, after the prior medical director left the organization. During the pandemic, Dr. Tucker was crucial in identifying ways to staff ICUs in light of record volumes and staff shortages. His widespread respect led to collaborative opportunities with hospitalists, anesthesiologists, and emergency departments in navigating patient volumes and care processes. Dedicated to providing the best care possible, Dr. Tucker took personal responsibility for every COVID-19 care protocol used at Deaconess. Working with his peers, and clinical pharmacists, and reading all the research he could, he wrote or reviewed every treatment document. He also established outreach protocols and processes for outpatient providers, giving them treatment instructions for managing COVID-19 patients and guidelines on when to send patients to the ED or to direct admit. His attention to detail in pursuit of the best care was amazing—his colleagues noted that he always had perfect citations and links.
Distinguished Service Award
Brian Shockney, HFA, FACHE, President of the IU Health South Central Region, was honored with the Distinguished Service Award, IHA’s top honor. Along with his role with IU Health, Brian is also a leader in his profession and community. Over the course of his career, he has held various leadership roles in the Indiana Hospital Association, including tenure as a Board member. Brian has also remained active in the American Hospital Association through the Variation in Health Care Committee and Small and Rural Hospital Governing Committee, where he served as Chair.
Additionally, Brian served as the Chair of the Indiana Rural Health Association Board of Directors and has been an active Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives mentoring other ACHE Members and fellows. Brian’s civic engagement and leadership extend beyond healthcare in countless community organizations he devotes his time and energy. A few of those organizations include Kiwanis, the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, and the HomeBank Board of Directors.
Before coming to IUH, he also served as the CEO of Logansport Memorial Hospital. Brian initially served as the interim CEO and proved at that time, and at a very young age, his ability to lead at the highest level through his passion, commitment, drive for excellence, servant leadership, and generosity. After proving his readiness for the job during the interim period, Brian was asked to become the permanent President and CEO.
The same characteristics that made Brian successful in his first stint as a senior leader have continued to make him successful in every role he’s filled as his career has advanced for over three decades.
Administrative Professional Excellence Award
Debra Swain was awarded IHA's Administrative Professional Excellence Award. Debbie has been with Good Samaritan for 42 years and currently works in the Marketing & Public Relations Department as a Community Relations Specialist. She began her career straight out of high school and was a clerk typist for the Accounting Department. After 11 years, Debbie transitioned to Secretary of the Marketing Department.
In 2016, Debbie was recognized as the June Shining Star for her secret efforts in documenting the hospital's BEACON Project, which was the building of a new patient tower and the subsequent demolition and renovation of older buildings, and the moving of departments. For four years, Debbie secretly filled two large scrapbooks with project memorabilia. She included mentions of the BEACON Project that were in the employee newsletter or the newspaper, from the unveiling of expansion plans to the grand opening of what became the Gibault Memorial expansion. Along with newspaper clippings and newsletter articles, Debbie included all invitations for special ceremonies, programs, flyers, signage, and pictures from the move to Gibault. In 2017 she became more than a Marketing Assistant and was given the title of Community Relations Specialist. Though she still has the same secretarial duties as when she started, she always takes on the extra duties with pride.
Stella Scholarship
Elizabeth Quinn received this year's Stella Scholarship. Awarded annually, the Stella Scholarship Fund offers financial support to students in the graduate program in health administration at Indiana University. It was established in 2007 to honor Ken Stella, IHA President from 1984-2007, and his wife Cindy for their many contributions to the health care field. Elizabeth is a first-generation college student and a mother of two. She transferred to IUPUI in 2020 to pursue a bachelor's degree in Health Services Management and, earlier this year, accepted an offer of admission into the accelerated Master of Health Administration program. She says she has always been passionate about helping others and making change for the better. This is what drove her toward healthcare leadership.
ACHE Awards
Every year, the Indiana regent of the ACHE recognizes two individuals with the Early Career Professional Award and the Senior Healthcare Executive Award. The ACHE criteria include someone who demonstrates leadership ability, innovative and creative management, participates in local and state hospital association activities, and civic/community activities, supports advancements within ACHE, and is interested in assisting others with ACHE. This year's Early Careerist Award was awarded to George Zhang, Administrator, Ascension St Vincent Dunn and Clay. The Senior Executive Award was awarded to Stephanie J. Long, FACHE, CEO, North Central Health Services.
