Member Recognition

The HR Visionary Leader Award recognizes an ASHHRA member who models the HR Leader Model competencies in healthcare human resources. This award recognizes exemplary service and contributions to ASHHRA and to the healthcare HR profession.

2021 Award Recipient

Tonya Richards

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer – Staff; Senior Human Resources Business Partner
Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, N.Y.
Chapter: Association of Healthcare Human Resources Administrators of Greater New York (AHHRA of Greater New York)

Selection Criteria

• Nominee must be a current ASHHRA member with at least five years of consecutive annual membership.
• Nominee has not been an ASHHRA board member in the last two years.
• Nominator completes application, describing how the nominee models the HR Leader Model competencies.
• Must indicate that materials submitted can be made available to ASHHRA members as samples of “best practice” documents, if requested.

Required Documents

Completed nomination form and three supporting professional recommendation letters from nominee’s colleagues.

Current ASHHRA board members, including the past president, are not eligible for this nomination. One nominee will be chosen per year.

A mentor is a more experienced individual who helps and guides another individual’s development and this guidance is not done for personal gain. ASHHRA had the privilege of having such a mentor in Paul Guy. In memory of Paul Guy, a past president, ASHHRA has developed the National Mentorship Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize members of ASHHRA who exemplify those qualities of mentorship as demonstrated by Paul Guy. This award is not limited to just one individual.

2021 Award Recipient

Lois Slick

Director of Human Resources
Life Care Medical Center
Roseau, Minn.
Chapter: Healthcare Human Resources Association of Minnesota (HHRAM)

Selection Criteria

• Nominee and nominator must both be current ASHHRA members.
• Nominee must have had at least five years of consecutive ASHHRA membership.
• Three supporting letters (see Required Documents below) that speak to the following attributes:
  • Role Model
    • Provides a model for civil and appropriate behavior and attitudes.
    • A person that the mentee admires or wants to be like.
    • Has qualities/values that the mentee desires for self.
    • Expands the mentee’s perspective and definition of their profession.
  • Teacher
    • Helped mentee to acquire knowledge, information and/or skills.
    • Participates in learning new things.
  • Resource
    • Provides opportunities to try new experiences.
    • Introduces mentee to new people, places, interest or ideas.
    • Encourages mentee to approach other people as resources.
    • Suggests new sources of information.
  • Support
    • Boosts self-esteem of mentee.
    • Conveys warm, caring demeanor towards mentee as a person.
    • Listens to ideas and concerns.
    • Expresses belief in mentee’s abilities.
  • Companion
    • Shares interests and experiences.
    • Takes time for talking with and listening to mentee.

Required Documents

Complete the National Mentorship Award nomination form by Feb. 3, 2023. At the bottom of the form, please upload three letters of recommendation (maximum 1 page each). Letters are to support the nomination and speak to the attributes of role model, teacher, resource, support and companion.

1. One letter must come from the nominator.
2. One letter must come from another member (ASHHRA affiliated chapter members and/or ASHHRA national members) who has benefited from the nominee’s mentorship.

The Gary Willis Leadership Award (GWLA) recognizes mid-level managers and directors who have made outstanding leadership and operations contributions to their organization. The award is for managers who are looking to advance their career through continuous educational opportunities promoting operational excellence. This prestigious award honors the memory of Gary Willis, an ASHHRA board member, who passed away in 2010 after a battle with cancer.

Selection Criteria

• A minimum of five years of healthcare HR experience
• Active ASHHRA member for at least one year*
• Hold a position from mid-level manager to director

*Past and present ASHHRA board members are not eligible for this award. 

Required Documents

Please upload the following required documents to the attachment field at the bottom of the form:

• Brief biography (300 words maximum)
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Reference Letter

The New-to-the-Profession Grant recognizes those who are new to the healthcare human resources profession (less than five years in healthcare HR). ASHHRA is proud to offer these grants to cover Full Conference registration to the ASHHRA23 annual conference and exposition in Fort Worth, Texas, April 14 – 16, 2024.

Three applicants will be selected. To be considered for one of the three available grants:

1. You must be an ASHHRA member prior to submitting the form. (Join/Renew now).
2. Complete the application form with all required documents by deadline date.
3. Upload your resume at the bottom of the form.
4. New-to-the-Profession Essay: The ASHHRA HR Leader Model contains five competencies. As a New-to-the-Profession healthcare HR practitioner, which competency would you like to develop during conference and why? Please upload an overview with a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) action plan addressing your professional development and conference strategy. (300-400 words)

Terms: Applicants must be current ASHHRA practitioner members. All required components must be complete by the application deadline date. Grant cannot be applied to current or existing registration. Grant applies only to Full Conference registration for the ASHHRA24 annual conference and is non-transferrable to another person or event. Past grant recipients from the past two years (2022, 2023) are not eligible.

ASHHRA is proud to offer scholarships to cover Full Conference registration to the ASHHRA24 annual conference and exposition in Fort Worth, Texas, April 14 – 16, 2024.

15 applicants will be selected. To be considered for one of the 15 available scholarships:

1. You must be an ASHHRA member prior to submitting the form. (Click here to join/renew your ASHHRA membership).
2. Complete the application form by when the cycle opens.
3. Upload your resume at the bottom of the form.

Terms: Applicants must be current ASHHRA practitioner members. All required components must be complete by the application deadline. Scholarship cannot be applied to current or existing registration. Scholarship applies only to Full Conference registration for the ASHHRA24 annual conference and is non-transferrable to another person or event. Past scholarship recipients from the past two years (2022, 2023) are not eligible.

The Outstanding Leadership and Service Award recognizes the Immediate Past President, nominated by ASHHRA leadership. Our deep appreciation to the 2023 ASHHRA Immediate Past President for Outstanding Leadership and Service:

Carl McDonald, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer
Broward Health
Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Click here for a list of previous honorees