Foster G. McGaw Prize

2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize Winner and Finalists Announced

Congratulations to the 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize Winner, Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Fall, Ore., and finalists Children’s National Hospital, Washington, D.C., Grady Health System, Atlanta, and Valley Children’s Healthcare, Madera, Calif. The AHA was pleased to recognize the inspiring achievements of these outstanding organizations at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit in Denver.

Winners of the 2027 Foster G. McGaw Prize will be announced at the 2027 AHA Leadership Summit, July 18-20 in San Diego.

Sky Lakes Medical Center actively builds regional resilience through several core partnerships to expand rural healthcare and wellness. Building bridges to leverage community resources is helping to train rural family doctors and sustain healthcare in underserved areas, provide medical safe havens, trauma-informed assessments, and referral services across four counties, and encourage environments for better lifestyle and nutritional choices. The hospital partners with United Way and the American Red Cross by hosting blood drives while volunteers provide scholarships for students pursuing healthcare careers.

Read the member story .
Watch the honoree video.
Read AHA’s press release.
View photo gallery.

Children's National Hospital collaborates with local schools, government agencies and community organizations to improve health for all and address social determinants of health. Key partnerships range from mobile health clinics and school-based telehealth services to family support programs and workforce development apprenticeships across the D.C. region. These impactful community initiatives and partnerships elevate community health needs and help advocate for systems-level policy changes.

Read the member story.
Watch the honoree video.
Read AHA’s press release.
View photo gallery.

Grady Health System tackles Atlanta's health and socioeconomic disparities through deep community partnerships, dedicating over 17% of its operating expenses to community benefits. These initiatives span preventive care, food access and specialized outreach to expand essential healthcare services into underserved neighborhoods.

Read the member story.
Watch the honoree video.
Read AHA’s press release.
View photo gallery.

Valley Children’s Healthcare collaborates with over 200 regional organizations to extend pediatric care beyond hospital walls into Central California neighborhoods, addressing issues like food insecurity, injury prevention and child abuse treatment. Working with community partners, the health system also supports medical education and research and partners with spiritual, nutritional, and community support agencies to address emotional and financial barriers to health.

Read the member story.
Watch the honoree video
Read AHA’s press release.
View photo gallery.

To learn more about Sky Lakes Medical Center and the finalists recognized by the 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize, watch the celebratory video or download the honoree booklet.

Contact fostermcgaw@aha.org with questions.

2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize Honorees

History of the Prize

The Baxter Foundation and the American Hospital Association founded the prestigious Foster G. McGaw Prize in 1986 to recognize hospitals, health systems and integrated networks that demonstrate a passion for community health and an exceptional commitment to co-designing innovative partnerships and collaboratives that improve the health and well-being of their communities.

We celebrate the winners and finalists of this award because they embody how the special bond between hospitals and communities can enrich the environment in which they live. Today, despite sweeping changes in the way healthcare is delivered, hospitals and their communities continue to forge strong partnerships to improve access to quality, safe care for all and to promote a healthier America.

About Baxter and the Baxter Foundation

Every day, Baxter and the Baxter Foundation strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend on the company’s products and in the communities where employees live and work. The Foundation helps advance Baxter’s mission to save and sustain lives by partnering with organizations around the world to increase access to healthcare for the underserved, develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing healthcare and to create a positive, long-lasting impact in communities globally. For more information, please visit Baxter's Corporate Responsibility page.