Carolyn Clancy, M.D., To Receive 2026 AHA Award of Honor

WASHINGTON (April 16, 2026) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that its 2026 Award of Honor will be presented to Carolyn Clancy, M.D., for her long devotion to advancing health care quality and patient safety. The award is given to individuals or organizations in recognition of exemplary contributions to the health and well-being of our nation through leadership on major health policy or social initiatives. Clancy will receive the award during an April 20 ceremony at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"Carolyn has had a remarkable career as a transformative leader, continuously improving American health care," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "Her contributions to quality, safety, system performance and leadership development have benefited the entire hospital field and will leave a lasting legacy for patients and communities across the country."

As director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality from 2003-2013, Clancy helped embed patient-centeredness, transparency and research into practice, improving care for millions of patients.

Before retiring earlier this year, Clancy most recently served as the assistant under secretary for health for discovery, education and affiliate networks at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). In addition, she served in other senior executive roles at the VHA.

Clancy has been involved with the AHA for several decades as a trusted advisor and collaborator. Her partnership and thought leadership have helped strengthen hospitals and health systems as they navigate an increasingly complex health care landscape.

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About the American Hospital Association (AHA)
The American Hospital Association (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 advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners - including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers - and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and 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 www.aha.org.