AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award

Applications for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award open April 28, 2026.

The AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes and shares the accomplishments of rural hospitals that demonstrate responsiveness, innovation, and excellence in developing, implementing, and sustaining programs and services. The award spotlights visionary changemakers using innovation and technology as catalysts for rural health resiliency — celebrating bold, practical solutions that strengthen care delivery and empower rural providers.

Finalists will be hospitals investing in programs, care redesign, collaboration, or technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges in rural, remote, and frontier areas of the United States and its territories.

One winner and up to three finalists will be selected. The award will be presented at the 2027 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, held January 31–February 3, 2027, in Orlando, Florida.

Learn about our 2026 winner and finalists.

Contact ruralaward@aha.org with questions.

Listen to AHA Chair Marc Boom, M.D., and Mark Boucot, President and CEO of WVU Potomac Valley Hospital, discuss the program that received the 2026 AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award.

2027 Award Sponsor

The AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award is generously sponsored by Microsoft.

Key Resources

Past Winners of the Award