2026 Circle of Life Award Digital Toolkit
The AHA’s Circle of Life Award celebrates innovative organizations that provide direct patient care for patients with serious or life-limiting illness and demonstrate exceptional commitment in palliative and end-of-life care. For more information and to download an application, visit the Circle of Life Prize webpage.
Sample Post-award Social Messages/Newsletter Blurbs
2026 AHA Circle of Life Award winners announced
The AHA awarded Erie County Medical Center of Buffalo, N.Y., and the Geriatrics and Extended Care Hospice and Palliative Medicine Team of Orlando VA Health Care System in Orlando, Fla., the 2026 AHA Circle of Life Award at the Leadership Summit for their efforts in palliative and end-of-life care.
The 2027 Circle of Life Award will be awarded at the AHA Leadership Summit, July 18-20, 2027 in San Diego.
The AHA announced the 2026 Circle of Life Award winners Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y,, and Geriatrics and Extended Care Hospice and Palliative Medicine Team, Orlando VA Health Care System at the 2026 Leadership Summit in Denver. Their work reflects outstanding innovation, compassion and leadership in palliative and end-of-life care, helping patients and families receive care that honors their goals, needs and values.
The 2027 Circle of Life Award will be awarded at the AHA Leadership Summit, July 18-20, 2027 in San Diego.
Additional Resources
See the AHA’s updated webpage.
https://www.aha.org/about/awards/circle-life
See the video honoring this year’s winner and finalists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUNfnl9ELgY
See the AHA news release about the honorees’ strategies and achievements.
See more about the Prize recognition at the 2026 AHA Leadership Summit
See the booklet offering a deeper dive in the winners’ stories with leadership quotes.
https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2026/07/circle-of-life-awards-7-2026.pdf
About the Prize
The AHA’s Circle of Life Award recognizes bold, innovative palliative and end-of-life care programs that demonstrate sustainable, data-driven impact through measurable outcomes. It is sponsored by the Baxter Foundation and administered by the American Hospital Association (AHA). For more information, visit www.aha.org/about/awards/circle-life.
