Which Minnesota Hospitals Won 2026 State Awards? See The Full List By Hospital

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) announced its 2026 award winners Monday, naming 44 individuals, teams and programs from hospitals and health systems across the state.

The awards were presented last week at MHA's Annual Meeting. MHA is the state's hospital trade association, and the honors recognize contributions to patients, hospitals and communities. They are not patient outcome or quality rankings. To compare hospitals on measures such as patient safety and satisfaction, the federal Care Compare tool at medicare.gov/care-compare is a starting point.

CentraCare and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center had the most recognitions, with four each. Lakewood Health System and Aspirus Lake View Hospital each had three.

"These award recipients represent the best of healthcare in Minnesota," said MHA President and CEO Dr. Rahul Koranne. "Excellent healthcare depends on people serving in many different roles, and these honorees demonstrate the impact individuals and teams can have at the bedside, in their communities, and at the State Capitol."

Find your hospital by region

Each hospital lists its awards below, with the award category first and the winner after the colon.

TWIN CITIES METRO

Allina Health Mercy Hospital, Unity Campus (Fridley)

- Volunteer Excellence: Wayne and Glenda Bedard

Children's Minnesota

- Community Benefit: Project ADAM Minnesota (with The Children's Heart Clinic)

- Volunteer Excellence: Mary, Maggie and Millie Drazan

Fairview

- Innovation in Technology

Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater)

- Excellence in Caregiving: Heidi Ascheman

North Memorial Health (Robbinsdale)

- Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace: Learning and Development Team

- Innovation in Technology: Salena Nikolaisen

Ridgeview Medical Center (Waconia)

- Volunteer Excellence: Mary Thielen

SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA

Olmsted Medical Center (Rochester)

- Innovation in Patient Care: WholeYou Weight Management Program

Winona Health (Winona)

- Administrative Professional Excellence: Jodie Byrne

SOUTHERN AND WESTERN MINNESOTA

Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center (Marshall)

- Excellence in Caregiving: Aaron Schroeder, RN

- Innovation in Patient Care: OB Navigation Program

Johnson Memorial Health Services (Dawson)

- Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace

Meeker Memorial Hospital and Clinics (Litchfield)

- Excellence in Caregiving: Timothy Peterson, MD

- Quality and Safety Improvement: Vistelar Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Olivia Hospital and Clinic, HealthPartners (Olivia)

- Quality and Safety Improvement: Quality, Safety and Experience Leadership Team

River's Edge Hospital (St. Peter)

- Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace

- Innovation in Patient Care

CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Astera Health (Wadena)

- Patient Gratitude: Patt Knudtson

CentraCare (St. Cloud)

- Community Benefit: Project H.E.A.L.

- Innovation in Technology: Primary Care Transformation

- Sustainability: CentraCare

- Volunteer Excellence: Gary Riess (CentraCare St Cloud Hospital)

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (Crosby)

- Administrative Professional Excellence: Bobbie Ward

- Patient Gratitude: Linda Peterson

- Spirit of Advocacy: Amy Hart

- Trustee Excellence: Roger Twigg

Essentia Health

- Community Benefit: Sandstone Workforce Housing Project (Sandstone)

Lakewood Health System (Staples)

- Enduring Legacy: Mary Theurer

- Quality and Safety Improvement: OB Team

- Sustainability: Lakewood Lift

Mille Lacs Health System (Onamia)

- Community Benefit: Keeping Medications Within Reach for Rural Patients

NORTHERN MINNESOTA

Aspirus Lake View Hospital (Two Harbors)

- Excellence in Caregiving: Infusion Team

- Patient Gratitude: Tanner Murphy

- Volunteer Excellence: Pat Van Den Heuvel

Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital (Ely)

- Trustee Excellence: Barb Soderberg

Sanford Bemidji Medical Center (Bemidji)

- Community Benefit: Families First: Rural Maternity Health Collaborative

STATEWIDE

MN Direct Care and Treatment Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services

- Quality and Safety Improvement: Quality and Safety Departments

Also honored

Jan Malcolm of the Governor's Office and Health Subcabinet received the Enduring Legacy award. Public Service awards went to Rep. Robert Bierman, Rep. Dave Baker, Sen. Grant Hauschild, Sen. Matt Klein and Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar.

MHA represents Minnesota's hospitals and health systems, which employ more than 127,000 people. The association has worked since 1917 to provide hospitals and health systems with resources, best practices and guidance.