Login to Complete an Application or to Access Judging Panel
Modern Healthcare's Innovators Awards program recognizes leaders and organizations driving innovation that improves care, achieves measurable results and contributes to clinical and financial goals.
Successful innovation in healthcare requires great teams and organizations that can move a good idea from a whiteboard, through development, testing and marketing, to introduction and success. It doesn’t necessarily require the flashiest technology. The best ideas address untapped needs or find new ways of tackling longtime challenges.
Nominations are open.
Previous winners have invented garments to better protect orthopedic surgeons from cancer, spun up conservation plans when faced with supply-chain deficits and brokered partnerships between unlikely bedfellows to expand access to care in rural areas.
We encourage nominations from organizations in all corners of the healthcare industry. Nominations should include quantifiable data showing the results of the innovation for the nominating organization or its customers.
2026 Key Dates & Deadlines
November 24, 2025 - Nominations opened
February 17, 2026 - Nominations close at 11:59 p.m. Central
April 13, 2026 - Honorees published online and in MH magazine
Eligibility
• The individual awards are open to individuals in leadership positions at any healthcare or healthcare-related organization, including but not limited to hospitals, health systems, physician groups, post-acute care organizations, insurance companies, digital health companies, investment firms, medical technology companies, startups, vendors, think tanks and suppliers. Researchers and public policy officials are eligible, but nominations must reflect real-world impact of their work.
• The organizational awards are open to any healthcare or healthcare-related company, including but not limited to hospitals, health systems, physician groups, post-acute care organizations, insurance companies, digital health companies, investment firms, medical technology companies, startups, vendors, think tanks and suppliers.
Judging Criteria
Nominations will be reviewed and judged based on the following criteria:
• Specific initiatives, with quantifiable results, the nominee has launched to address a pressing health concern, streamline access to services, better the patient experience, improve organizational efficiency, quality or safety metrics, and/or boost the organization’s financial performance
• Specific steps, including quantifiable results, the nominee has taken to advance a culture of innovation at their organization, or across the healthcare industry
• Nominations for the most innovative organizations should include a description of how a team or organization came together to be innovative, if there was a particular project involved and the quantifiable clinical/financial results
Process
All nominations must be submitted online by the deadline. Answers to each question are limited to 150 words.
Required Materials/Documentation
A current resume and headshot are required for submission for nominees in the individual category. Individual nominee submissions without resumes will not be considered.
For nominees in the organization category, a high-resolution picture of the organization's logo is required.
Fee
To submit a name for consideration, there is a nomination fee of $200, which must be paid upon submission. Modern Healthcare editors will select the honorees. Payment does not guarantee selection. Multiple nominations for one individual or organization do not influence the process.
Sponsorship
Interested in advertising in Modern Healthcare's Innovators published issue? Please contact David Baker to learn more.
Contact
If you have questions about the program, including the criteria, nomination and selection process, or deadline, please contact mhawards@modernhealthcare.com
Modern Healthcare’s newsroom will select the honorees based on the judging criteria provided above.
Yes, you may nominate multiple individuals from your organization, or submit nominations in both the organization and individual categories. Each individual or organization you choose to nominate requires a separate submission process and a separate nomination fee of $200.
No, multiple nominations for the same person or organization will not influence the selection process in any way.
Yes, vendors and startups are encouraged to apply. Nominations from vendors should include quantifiable data showing success at customer partners — and, when possible, the names of those partners.
Yes, Modern Healthcare will consider nominations from previous honorees who have achieved demonstrable results in the past year.
All submissions and fees for Modern Healthcare's Awards & Recognition Programs are non-refundable. If you need to withdraw a nomination, you may transfer it to another individual at no additional charge. Please contact mhawards@modernhealthcare.com to request a transfer or cancellation.
The honorees will be notified of their selection the week in March 2026. The notification will include an embargoed press release template and information regarding licensing, congratulatory ads, awards and certificates.
No, we will not notify nominees that are not selected.