Circle of Life Award: Celebrating Innovation in Palliative and End-of-Life Care

2026 Circle of Life Award Honorees

Congratulations to the 2026 Circle of Life Winners, Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y., and Orlando VA Healthcare System in Orlando, Fla. The AHA was pleased to recognize the two organizations at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit in Denver.

Winners of the 2027 Circle of Life Award will be announced at the 2027 AHA Leadership Summit, July 18-20 in San Diego.

Erie County Medical Center accepts the Circle of Life Award at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit.
 

Orlando VA Healthcare System accepts the Circle of Life Award at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit.

To learn more about the programs recognized by the 2026 Circle of Life Award, watch the celebratory videoor download the honoree booklet.
 

2026 Circle of Life Award Sponsors

Supporting sponsors of the 2026 award are the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association. Contributing sponsors are the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the Center to Advance Palliative Care, the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association/the Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center/the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Foundation, and the National Association of Social Workers.

About the Award

Readiness

How do you know if your organization is ready to apply for a Circle of Life Award?

An innovative palliative or end-of-life care provider that is measuring and evaluating the impact of its work on patients, family and/or the community is a strong candidate for a Circle of Life Award.

Honorees typically are:

• Emphasizing coordinated or integrated care delivery throughout all settings.
• Engaging all populations.
• Promoting palliative care in a multitude of populations.
• Using strategies for engaging communities.
• Creating partnerships with other health care organizations and practitioners and launching initiatives within long-term care facilities.

Please contact circleoflife@aha.org with questions.

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