Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award

Upcoming Events

Sunflower Health Network Board Meeting - Jan. 9

The Sunflower Health Network is a not-for-profit organization that consists of 26 counties located primarily in North Central and North West Kansas. Sunflower Health Network's (SHN) specific purpose is to improve the population's health status. The 26 member hospitals, in conjunction with their medical staff, have developed a network that fosters cooperation and coordination. The priority has been to enhance the integration of health-related services among the SHN member communities.

Quality Corner Call - Jan. 10

Quality Corner Calls are offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Healthworks and focus on quality improvement activities consistent with the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program.

KHA Board Meeting - Jan. 22

KHA has a 21-member board of directors. They meet at least five times a year. Each board member holds three-year terms, with a two-term limit. The board has a composition of members from all geographic areas of Kansas all sizes and types of member hospitals are represented. The board also includes two hospital trustees and two physician members. Other participants include American Hospital Association delegate.

KHA's Advocacy Day - Jan. 23

Advocacy is at the heart of every service KHA provides for our members. Whether we are educating, advocating or relationship-building, we look for ways to assist policymakers at the federal, state and local levels in understanding the implications of the policies being discussed.

KHSC Board Meeting - Jan. 28

KHSC is a wholly owned subsidiary of KHA. Therefore, a secondary objective of KHSC is to support KHA in meeting its mission of serving hospitals. Its mission is to provide enhanced value to KHA members by evaluating and endorsing selected vendors of services needed by the KHA membership. KHSC will be a valuable resource to Kansas healthcare facilities and the Kansas Hospital Association as they serve their constituents.

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Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award

2024 Visionary Recipient

Richard Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C
President
Wichita State University
Wichita

Who Is Donald A. Wilson?

Donald A. Wilson served as president of the Kansas Hospital Association from 1982 to 2004. In 2007, the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award was established to honor Wilson’s dedication and years of service to Kansans.

Purpose of the Award

The Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award recognizes hospital-related individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. The award recognizes a hospital-related individual who has been a change agent in the hospital industry.

Criteria

The award will be given based on the nominee's work in the following areas: relevance; leadership; innovation; partnership: and impact.

The Process

Nominations are submitted online and are reviewed by a committee of past KHA award recipients. The committee may recommend multiple or no awards be given. The committee’s recommendation is presented to the Executive Committee of the KHA Board of Directors for approval.

Award Presentation and Recognition

In recognition for an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community, the awardee will be honored by: Receipt of the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award; Recognition at the Kansas Hospital Association Convention; Coverage in KHA publications and on the KHA website; and media announcements of the award.

Deadline

Nominations will be accepted online until 11:59 p.m. June 1. For additional information, call KHA at (785) 233-7436.

Key Dates

April – Call for nominations
June 1 – Nominations are due
June – Nominations reviewed by the committee
July – Recommendation presented to the Executive Committee for approval
September – Awardee(s) honored at KHA Annual Convention

Materials to Be Submitted

All nominations must be submitted electronically .

Questions on the online nomination form are:

In a brief description (250 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Relevance: How does the nominee address emerging challenges or needs related to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community?
In a brief description (250 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Leadership: How does the nominee take a proactive role in improving health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community?
In a brief description (250 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Innovation: Demonstrate how this nominee took a new, creative approach to addressing an emerging challenge or identified need.
In a brief description (250 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Partnership: Share an example of how the nominee works closely with local, regional, state and/or national health care communities and/or how the nominee’s work has the potential for wide application.
In a brief description (250 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Impact: How has this nominee made a difference in improving health care delivery, health care finances or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community.

We would suggest filling out answers to these questions in advance and then pasting them into the online form. If you have any difficulty with the online form, contact Jan Fenwick at jfenwick@kha-net.org.

Previous Winners

Richard Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C, Wichita State University, Wichita, 2024
Brian A. Williams, Labette Health, Parsons, 2023
Robin Harrold, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Shawnee Mission, 2022
Dennis Shelby, Wilson Medical Center, Neodesha, 2021
Marshaun Butler, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas, Overland Park, 2019
Robert Moser, MD, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Salina, 2019
John L. Jacobson, Atchison Hospital, Atchison, 2018
Melissa L. Hungerford, Kansas Hospital Association, Topeka, 2017
John H. Jeter, MD, Hays Medical Center, Inc. Hays, 2016
Kim Moore, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Hutchinson, 2015
Susan M. Page, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt, 2011
Roger W. Pearson, Great Plains Health Alliance, Phillipsburg, 2008
Kent E. Palmberg, MD, Stormont-Vail HealthCare Inc. Topeka, 2007

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