Harsh K. Trivedi, M.D., To Receive Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award

WASHINGTON (April 15, 2026) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that the 2026 Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award will be awarded to Harsh K. Trivedi, M.D., president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore.

The award recognizes Trivedi for his unwavering commitment to innovation, community service and patient-centered care. He will receive the award during a ceremony on April 20 at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Under Trivedi's leadership for the last decade, Sheppard Pratt opened its new 156,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, behavioral health hospital, rolled out new community-based care innovations - including expansion of its residential crisis programs to create alternatives to hospitalization for individuals in acute behavioral health crises - and advanced research in psilocybin for treatment-refractory conditions. He also spearheaded the launch of Sheppard Pratt Solutions, a consulting and management services division, to partner with hospitals and health systems nationwide to improve and expand behavioral health services. Trivedi has driven transformative expansions in youth mental health care, integrated school-based programs, urgent psychiatric services and mobile crisis resources that meet patients where they are with dignity and compassion.

"Harsh has never missed an opportunity to serve the field using his voice to champion innovative care delivery, behavioral health integration, and solutions that strengthen health systems across the country," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "Harsh's deep commitment to innovation in care delivery and behavioral health has fueled Sheppard Pratt's expansion to meet the rising behavioral health needs of our nation's communities by scaling telehealth and virtual crisis 'walk-in' clinics to increase access during COVID-19, launching cutting-edge outpatient programs and reducing unnecessary emergency department visits."

In addition to his system leadership, Harsh has been an active member of the AHA, including serving as a member of the AHA Board of Trustees from 2019-2021. He has also served on the Behavioral Health Services Committee, Operations Committee, Investment Committee, Task Force on COVID-19 Pathways to Recovery, Dick Davidson NOVA Award Committee, and currently serves on the AHA Committee on Nominations.

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About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at https://www.aha.org.