Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award

2023 Visionary Recipient

Williams, Brian2    

Brian A. Williams
President and Chief Executive Officer
Labette Health
Parsons

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Who Is Donald A. Wilson?

Donald A. Wilson served as president of the Kansas Hospital Association from 1982 to 2004. In 2007, the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award was established to honor Wilson’s dedication and years of service to Kansans.

Purpose of the Award

The Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award recognizes hospital-related individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. The award recognizes a hospital-related individual who has been a change agent in the hospital industry.

Criteria

The award will be given based on the nominee's work in the following areas: relevance; leadership; innovation; partnership: and impact.

The Process

Nominations are submitted online and are reviewed by a committee of past KHA award recipients. The committee may recommend multiple or no awards be given. The committee’s recommendation is presented to the Executive Committee of the KHA Board of Directors for approval.

Award Presentation and Recognition

In recognition for an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community, the awardee will be honored by: Receipt of the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award; Recognition at the Kansas Hospital Association Convention; Coverage in KHA publications and on the KHA website; and media announcements of the award.

Deadline

Nominations will be accepted online until 11:59 p.m. June 1.  For additional information, call KHA at (785) 233-7436.

Key Dates

  • April – Call for nominations
  • June 1 – Nominations are due
  • June – Nominations reviewed by the committee
  • July – Recommendation presented to the Executive Committee for approval
  • September – Awardee(s) honored at KHA Annual Convention

Materials to Be Submitted

All nominations must be submitted electronically.

Questions on the online nomination form are:

  1. In a brief description (200 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Relevance: How does the nominee address emerging challenges or needs related to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community?
  2. In a brief description (200 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Leadership: How does the nominee take a proactive role in improving health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community?
  3. In a brief description (200 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Innovation: Demonstrate how this nominee took a new, creative approach to addressing an emerging challenge or identified need.
  4. In a brief description (200 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Partnership: Share an example of how the nominee works closely with local, regional, state and/or national health care communities and/or how the nominee’s work has the potential for wide application.
  5. In a brief description (200 words or less), please address the nominee’s work in the following area: Impact: How has this nominee made a difference in improving health care delivery, health care finances or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community.

We would suggest filling out answers to these questions in advance and then pasting them into the online form. If you have any difficulty with the online form emailed awards@kha-net.org.

Previous Winners

  • Dennis Shelby, Wilson Medical Center, Neodesha, 2021
  • Marshaun Butler, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas, Overland Park, 2019
  • Robert Moser, MD, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Salina, 2019
  • John L. Jacobson, Atchison Hospital, Atchison, 2018
  • Melissa L. Hungerford, Kansas Hospital Association, Topeka, 2017
  • John H. Jeter, MD, Hays Medical Center, Inc. Hays, 2016
  • Kim Moore, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Hutchinson, 2015
  • Susan M. Page, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt, 2011
  • Roger W. Pearson, Great Plains Health Alliance, Phillipsburg, 2008
  • Kent E. Palmberg, MD, Stormont-Vail HealthCare Inc. Topeka, 2007