Awards & Fellowships
2026-2027 mentors support their fellows in the yearlong program to support capstone projects and career growth
Welcome the 2025-2026 fellowship cohort as they work to transform their organizations and careers
Explore past Next Generation Leaders Fellowship cohorts, from recent classes to earlier years, with overviews and participating fellows.
Explore past Next Generation Leaders Fellowship mentors, listed by cohort with each year’s overview and participating mentors.
Applications are now open for the AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award, which recognizes and shares the accomplishments of rural hospitals that demonstrate responsiveness, innovation and excellence in developing, implementing and sustaining programs and services.
The Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award from the AHA Rural Health Services honors the leadership team who has guided their hospital and community through transformational change on the road to health care reform innovation.
The new AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award seeks to recognize and share the accomplishments of rural hospitals that exemplify responsiveness, innovation and excellence in developing, implementing and/or sustaining programs and services.
The 12-month AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship will be bookended with in-person meetings. The majority of the program takes place virtually through inquiry-based modules, discussions and web meetings with faculty and mentors representing diverse expertise and leadership positions.
Guide a rising leader! Become a mentor in AHA’s Next Gen Leaders Fellowship and help shape health care’s future through insight and support.
Former AHA Board Member John “Jack” J. Lynch III and AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack have been announced as the 2026 recipients of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Gold Medal Award. The award recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions to health care.