IPHCA Annual Awards - Champions of Healthcare
The Annual IPHCA Champions of Health Care and Quality Awards acknowledge and celebrate you and your commitment to our mission of providing healthcare to all Hoosiers.
The Awards ceremony takes place in the closing session of our Annual Conference, to honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to community health in Indiana.
See below to find out about all the categories and meet last year's winners.
For full details of the 2025 awards, please click here.
Nominations must be received by close of business on September 11, 2026
Award Categories
Volunteer of the Year Award
This award recognizes a primary health volunteer who has demonstrated excellence through: 1) patient advocacy; 2) innovative programs/services/systems; or 3) collaborative efforts.
• The primary health care volunteer must have volunteered for the health center for a minimum of two years.
Volunteer of the Year 2025 - Aaron Robles, Neighborhood Health
Volunteer of the Year 2025 - David Newgent, Former Board Member, IHC
Legislator of the Year Award
This award recognizes a state or national elected official who has championed access to health care and supported safety net infrastructure.
Legislator of the Year 2025 - Todd Young, US Senator
Provider of the Year Award
This award recognizes an outstanding provider who has demonstrated excellence in clinical leadership through:
1) advocacy; 2) innovative programs/services that have increased access, improved health care services to the community, or decreased disparities; or 3) collaborative efforts to reach high-risk populations in the community.
• A provider is defined as any provider who can directly bill hours for clinical services, including but not limited to MD, DDS, NP, PA, Dental Hygienist, Psychologist, MSW, CNW, and CNS.
• The primary health care provider must have practiced at the health center for a minimum of three years.
The Provider of the Year Award is given to the outstanding nominee in each of three (3) categories - Dental, Medical and Behavioral Health.
Dental Provider of the Year 2025 - Isaac Zeckel, DDS, HealthLinc
Medical Provider of the Year 2025
Rob Dawson, DNP, FPN-C, IHC
Behavioral Health Provider of the Year 2025 - Dick Donovan, LCSW, Neighborhood Health
Employee of the Year Award (Non-Provider)
This award recognizes a primary health employee (non-practitioner) who has demonstrated excellence through: 1) patient advocacy; 2) innovative programs / services / systems; or 3) collaborative efforts.
• The primary health care employee must have worked for the health center for a minimum of two years.
Employee of the Year 2025 - Stephanie Jeffery, Valley Professionals CHC
Special Exemplary Project Award (x4 )
This award honors a notable project by a member organization that has demonstrated excellence through:
1) advocacy; 2) innovative programs/services/systems that have increased access, improved health care services to the community, or decreased disparities; or 3) collaborative efforts to reach high-risk populations in the community.
• The project must have been in effect for a minimum of one year.
The Project of the Year Award is given to the outstanding nominee in each of four (4) categories - Dental, Medical, Behavioral Health and Operations.
Special Exemplary Medical Project 2025 -
Family Planning Counseling for Women of Reproductive Age, The Jane Pauley CHC
Special Exemplary Dental Project 2025
Inclusive Dentistry, Neighborhood Health
Special Exemplary Operations Project 2025 - Patient Service Center, led by Martha Campos, IHC
The Debra Meers Grassroots Advocacy Award
This award is given in honor of Debra Meers. Debbie was the office manager and Director of Membership at IPHCA until she passed away in 2005 from a long-term illness. Debbie is fondly remembered for her bright smile and her passion for grassroots advocacy.
The award honors a health center consumer, Board member, or a staff person of an IPHCA member organization who has been a strong voice for community health centers with the state and national legislature and within the local community.
Debra Meers Grassroots Advocacy Award 2025
Thomas R. Ruge, JD, Director, Lewis & Kappas
Philip L. Morphew, Health Center Dedication
This award recognizes an individual who has championed the advancement of community health centers’ mission to deliver high quality, culturally competent, comprehensive primary care services regardless of patients’ ability to pay. They have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to supporting the growth of the community health center program through education, partnership, or service.
• Recipients may include employees, community partners, consultants, contractors, or an individual demonstrating long term support of community health centers.
Philip L. Morphew Dedication Award 2025
Terry (TJ) Warren, CEO, Valley Professional CHC
Also recognised at our Champions of Healthcare lunch
Navigator of the Year
Since 2013, Navigators have helped Americans understand their health insurance options and facilitated their enrollment in health insurance coverage. This award recognizes Indiana’s Navigators who exemplify the best skills in patient-centered healthcare navigation.
This award is first presented at our Navigator Monday event in May.
Navigator of the Year 2025 -
Krista French, NorthShore Health
Integrated Care Highest Composite Quality Awards
These awards are given in the following categories:
- FQHC Highest Composite Quality Rating
- Integrated Care Highest Composite Quality Rating
- Highest Overall Composite Quality Rating,
- Look Alike Highest Composite Quality Rating
- UDS Most Improved Quality 2022-2024
These awards are based on quality measures (not nominated.)
FQHC Highest Composite Quality Rating 2025 - Valley Professionals Community Health Center
Integrated Care Highest Composite Quality Rating 2025 - Eskenazi Health
Awardees will be selected from nominations solicited from the IPHCA membership.
You are invited to submit nominations in any or all of the award categories shown here.
Click here to start your nomination form!
Please complete a separate form for each nomination.
Nominations must be submitted on of before close of business on September 11, 2026.
You can view / download a list of awards and criteria here
If you have any questions or suggetsions please contact Sean Herbold
