Since 1994, the John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Healthcare Through the Use of Data, administered by CHA’s Connecticut Healthcare Research and Education Foundation (CHREF), has been given to one hospital each year to honor the contributions made by John D. Thompson to healthcare administration and patient care quality during his career. Dr. Thompson was a professor at Yale’s Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health, known for his advocacy of using quantitative data in health policy formulation, and specifically his role in the development of DRGs for hospital reimbursement.

Recipients are selected based on how the hospital or healthcare system successfully improved patient care due to a modification in process as substantiated through the use of data. A panel comprising representatives from various organizations with an interest in healthcare quality judges entries. There is a two-year period of ineligibility for previous John D. Thompson Award winners.

Click here to submit entries for the 2026 award. You must be logged in to your CHA account to access the award submission page. For instructions on how to set up an account if you have not yet, click here.

Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award, jointly awarded by CHA and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) since 1993, recognizes a Connecticut hospital or healthcare system that has made an outstanding contribution to its community, particularly for a program or service targeted toward a particular segment of a hospital or healthcare system’s community.

Entries are judged by a panel, including a DPH representative and a representative from the Connecticut media. There is a two-year period of ineligibility for previous Community Service Award winners.

Click here to submit entries for the 2026 award. You must be logged in to your CHA account to access the award submission page. For instructions on how to set up an account if you have not yet, click here.

The CHA Healthcare Heroes Award celebrates and recognizes the invaluable contributions of exceptional healthcare workers, both to their field and to the community at large.

The T. Stewart Hamilton, MD, Distinguished Service Award, introduced in 1970 and awarded in most but not every year since then, is granted to individuals who “contribute significant, noteworthy services to the health of the public.” Recipients are individuals who have made a career in the healthcare field and have contributed or achieved excellence in governance, management, or clinical services. Primary consideration is given to the contributions of potential recipients in the following areas: improving the welfare of healthcare consumers; innovations in administrative methods and practices; service in local, state, or national organizations in the healthcare field; promotion of positive public relations within the community; networking, collaboration, and integration with other healthcare providers and agencies; advocacy of social and other legislation relating to improved quality of care; advancement of the art and science of healthcare administration.

The Service in Pursuit of Excellence Award was established in 2015 by the Executive Committee to honor individuals who have displayed extraordinary service to the healthcare field. Recipients will have demonstrated dedication in areas including: patient care, quality and patient safety, health equity, population health – or for innovative work in any area that advances the healthcare mission. This award is not awarded every year.

The CHA Honorary Membership Award was established in 1968 to recognize certain individuals who distinguished themselves with their personal dedication and contributions to the advancement of healthcare services.