(May 1, 2026) – Kansas hospitals and health systems were recently honored for excellence in public relations and marketing at the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators' Emerald Awards.
Emerald Awards are presented annually to Kansas hospitals and health systems that excel in communications, special events, advertising, video and other categories. Three marketing professionals from Kentucky, New York and Missouri, each with extensive health care marketing experience, evaluated this year's entries based on planning and research, implementation, cost-effectiveness and results.
The 2026 Emerald Awards were presented during the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators' Spring Conference on April 24 in Salina.
In addition to the 20 Emerald Awards and 24 Certificates of Merit presented this year, judges selected one entry as Best of Show. This year's Best of Show winner was "Relocate to Rooks," by Samantha Pfannenstiel at Rooks County Health Center in Plainville. The campaign took a fresh approach to staff recruitment by encouraging people to envision themselves living and working in a rural area. A powerful video anchored a coordinated digital strategy that introduced Rooks County as a place where professional impact and quality of life go hand in hand.
The judges praised the campaign's planning and research, as well as Rooks County Health Center's collaboration in bringing the idea to life. "I love that you partnered with local organizations to make this work. A strong hospital with great providers equals a strong local community and economy," one judge said.
A list of awards, by category, is available in the KAHCC Emerald Awards Media Release.
--Shelby Stacy