Meet the 2026 Social Health Award Finalists

The wait is over! We are thrilled to share the finalists for the 2026 Social Health Awards. Our team and judges were profoundly touched by the incredible stories and relentless advocacy of our Health Leaders. Coming together to celebrate this work underscores the vital role that social health plays in all our lives.

To our Health Leaders: you amaze us daily. Managing or caregiving for a chronic or terminal illness is an incredible challenge, and your tireless efforts deserve to be spotlighted. Through innovative advocacy and unwavering community support, you make a difference that is truly immeasurable.

Congratulations!

We couldn't be more excited to recognize these incredible finalists. The passion that our community of Health Leaders, warriors, survivors, advocates, and influencers have is immeasurable.

All finalists will be individually notified via email and sent next-step communications.

Determining the winners

The 50 Social Health Awards finalists will be reviewed and scored by our finalist judging panel, comprised of industry professionals, Health Leaders, and experts, to uncover the ten Social Health Award winners.

Winners will be announced during our virtual award ceremony on August 19th at 12:00PM EST.

Register for the ceremony

Winners will receive a prize pack to honor their achievements, which includes a personalized Social Health Awards plaque, a $500 cash prize, a compensated seat on the 2027 Health Union Patient Leadership Council, a year membership to the Society for Participatory Medicine (SPM), and the U.S. Responsible Influence Certification course.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for.

The 2026 Social Health Awards Finalists are...

Advocacy Trailblazer

Asha Miller
Kay Matthews
Matthew Zachary
Sally Wolf
Sydney Stern

The Advocacy Trailblazer category celebrates patients and caregivers who are redefining the boundaries of health advocacy. This award honors those who develop innovative systems, programs, or initiatives that change how their community is educated and supported.

This category focuses on advocacy innovation — think launching a new nonprofit model, establishing a peer-to-peer mentorship framework, or spearheading a first-of-its-kind legislative awareness campaign. The sky is the limit, and these Health Leaders are the ones reaching for it.

Best Team

A Couple Takes on MS
Aortic Hope
HeartLife
Infusion Access Foundation
Invisible Illness Awareness Network

The Best Team category recognizes a team or group that combines their unique strengths to take health advocacy to new heights. This award celebrates the power of collaboration - whether through a nonprofit organization, an online support group leadership team, or a dedicated caregiver-patient or patient-HCP partnership.

Caregiver Champion

Athena Nikolos
Jillian Arnold
Liz Fussa
Megan Tully
Tabatha DeGrave

Not all Health Leaders share their own personal health journey. The Caregiver Champion category is for those who tirelessly raise awareness to improve the lives of their loved ones. Though they may not be living with the condition themselves, these advocates - whether caring for a child, sibling, parent, partner, or friend - bring an invaluable, up-close perspective to the health community.

Community Cultivator

Courtney Whitney
Emily Hertzberg
Erika Page
Georgina Cornago
Kristy Poindexter

A health diagnosis can be life-changing - but so can the support of a dedicated community. The Community Cultivator award recognizes the individual leader who has built, managed, or moderated a health-focused online community. That space could be a Facebook group, a subreddit, an Instagram community, a Discord server, or any other creative way to bring people together. This category honors the person behind the platform who creates an inviting space for newcomers while maintaining a safe, moderated environment for all.

Creative Contributor

Cheryl Marker
Denise Pines
Kevin Moore
Shanelle Gabriel
Stacey Chillemi

There are many ways to lead in health advocacy. The Creative Contributor category recognizes those taking an artistic approach to raising awareness through tangible products or creative works. This award celebrates Health Leaders who transform their advocacy into something physical or artistic: think clothing, stationery, jewelry, comics, or fine art.

Healthcare Collaborator

Cheryl Dowling
Danielle Alstat
Ruchi Ambike
Sarah Ackerman Berkowitz
Valen Keefer

The Healthcare Collaborator category is for those who bridge the gaps between industry stakeholders and healthcare consumers. Whether speaking at conferences, consulting with healthcare companies, or using their experience to help change the healthcare industry, these Health Leaders are impacting the healthcare landscape at a systemic level.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Carin Andersen
Dr. Christina Hibbert
Maria-José Bouey
Racquel Dozier
Wenora Johnson

While many lead, few leave a legacy. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those rare Health Leaders who defy single categories. This honor is reserved for patients, caregivers, and HCPs with 5+ years of sustained advocacy who have moved beyond individual projects to become role models and mentors for the global health community.

Patient-Centered Pioneer

Dr. Diana Girnita
Dr. Eric Singhi
Dr. Kara Wada
Dr. Linda Bluestein
Dr. Naureen Alim

The Patient-Centered Pioneer category honors healthcare professionals who are redefining what it means to practice medicine in the digital age. These are the clinicians who don’t just treat patients - they champion them. These trailblazing HCPs are pioneering a new standard of collaborative, transparent, and patient-centered care.

Rookie of the Year

Dr. Amanda Whitehouse
Danielle Alstat
Lisa R. Triggs
Paige Williams
Samantha Brown

As anyone in advocacy knows, communities aren’t built overnight. Sharing your story and impacting a community takes time and patience, so let’s celebrate those recently empowered as Health Leaders. The Rookie of the Year category recognizes patients, caregivers, or HCPs who may be new to the scene but already demonstrate exceptional potential and dedication.

Social Media Master

Cheryl Marker
Cydney Carter
Kody Green
Michaela Davert
Tiny Docs

Whether posting to Instagram, hosting Facebook Lives, or participating in the latest TikTok trends, the Social Media Master category recognizes Health Leaders who leverage social platforms for advocacy. This category celebrates those who share their personal stories and foster community through one or many social channels.