Social Health Awards

5 min read

Your voice has the power to change the healthcare landscape. Whether you are a patient sharing a raw moment of truth, a caregiver sharing your journey, or an HCP bridging the gap online, your story is a catalyst for change. The Social Health Awards are here to amplify that impact.

We proudly honor the leaders who transform personal experience into collective empathy, understanding and real-world progress.

This program shines a spotlight on those who have spent the past year courageously sharing their journeys to:

Spark connections and build communities for those living with health conditions.
Deepen public understanding of what it's truly like to live with or care for someone with a health condition.
Educate and inform about the vital roles that patients, caregivers, and HCPs play within the healthcare system.
Shine a light on areas that need improvement or correction.
Champion efforts to improve life with chronic or terminal conditions.
And so much more!

You are the reason the "social" in health matters. Health Union’s research shows that 95% of people turn to social resources for support. Because of leaders like you, 86% of patients better understand their conditions and 62% feel less alone.

If you are out there transforming lives and ensuring no one walks their journey alone, it’s time to celebrate you. The work of a Health Leader is essential - let us help the world hear your voice.

How do the Social Health Awards work?

The Social Health Awards unfold in three phases:

***ESTHER PUT THE TIMELINE IMAGE HERE***

Phase 1: Submit an Entry - June 1 - June 26, 2026

This is your moment to reflect on your journey, celebrate your impact, and own your voice. During this phase, we'll collect self-submissions across our 10 award categories. Make sure to share all your notable work and impact. This is your chance to proudly showcase all you do for your community and claim your rightful seat at the table. Your community knows your value - it’s time for the rest of the world to see it, too.

To submit an entry, you’ll create an account on our Social Health Awards site, select a category, fill in your story and impact, and submit. We'll update here when the site is live and ready, on June 1st!

Important Submission Information: We only accept self-submissions for the Social Health Awards. While we previously collected nominations from the community, Health Union’s commitment to upholding data privacy and security measures has led us to update our process. If there's a Health Leader you'd like to see celebrated, we encourage you to send them the application link and suggest they submit an entry!

Phase 2: Judging - July 2026

Our judging process for the Social Health Awards involves three thoughtful phases, designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and integrity in how nominees are evaluated.

Eligibility screening:
Our Social Health Network team will review all submissions to confirm they meet the basic criteria for their selected category. For instance, if a solo Health Leader is submitted for "Best Team," that submission wouldn't move forward. This step ensures every entry is in the right place for consideration.

Internal judging rounds:
Next, our experienced Community Managers will evaluate submissions to identify the top 5 finalists in each of the 10 categories. Guided by Health Union’s 15-year legacy of supporting online health communities, our team will narrow the field to spotlight the standout submissions that best align with each category’s criteria.

Finalists will be announced on SocialHealthNetwork.com on July 21, 2026.

Finalist judging

In the final phase, our 5 finalists per category will be reviewed by a panel of external judges. This panel includes members of the Patient Leadership Council (PLC), representatives from partner organizations, and healthcare industry representatives. External judges must disclose any relationships with finalists and recuse themselves where conflicts exist.

If you’re interested in judging the awards, please send an email to network@socialhealthnetwork.com with the subject line "2026 Social Health Awards Judging."

Phase 3: Celebration - August 19, 2026 at 12 PM ET

Join us to announce and celebrate the 2026 Social Health Awards Winners in a live Zoom call with the community! Everyone is invited to join the festivities and honor our new class of Social Health Awards winners.

We'll update with the registration link on June 1st!

What are the Social Health Awards categories?

The 10 Social Health Awards categories are based on the foundational values of the health leader community, such as empathy, leadership, and creativity. These awards recognize exceptional patients, caregivers, and HCPs who are making a difference in the lives of others.

For the 2026 cycle, we have made an update to one of our Award categories and are excited to announce the Patient-Centered Pioneer category. This 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.

To learn more about this new category, and all of the Social Health Awards categories, click here.

What do winners receive?

This year, each Social Health Awards category winner will receive a prize pack to honor their achievements. The 2026 Social Health Awards winner's prize pack includes:

Personalized Social Health Award
A $500 cash prize
The opportunity to serve on Health Union's Patient Leadership Council for one (1) year (estimated value $600), subject to execution of a separate participation agreement
A one-year membership to the Society for Participatory Medicine (estimated value $50)
U.S. Responsible Influence Certification course for free (paid for by us) for your first year (estimated value $100)
Exclusive opportunities to connect virtually with fellow winners throughout the year!

Beyond the prize pack, winners and finalists gain a platform to share their mission with industry stakeholders, leading to new partnerships, speaking engagements, and a broader reach for their advocacy.

Best Team Prize Pack Note: Includes one $500 cash prize and personalized award, plus two individual seats on the Patient Leadership Council to represent the team’s impact.

Learn more about our past Social Health Awards recipients

Click below to learn more about our previous Social Health Awards winners:

Health Union, LLC is the official sponsor of the Social Health Awards. By providing your email address, you are opting in to receive emails from SocialHealthNetwork.com. The Social Health Awards are subject to our Terms of Use and Community Rules. For information on how we manage personal information and privacy preferences, visit our Privacy Policy.

Questions? Please email network@socialhealthnetwork.com.