Selection Criteria
Nominations must be submitted in the format described below and must include the following:
- Completed nomination form.
- Single-spaced, Arial 10pt., 0.5” margins, written narrative describing why the nominee is deserving of the award based on the criteria set forth in the award description (not to exceed one page.)
- Pertinent supplementary materials may be submitted via e-mail or USPS to support each nomination. Applications and supplementary materials will not be returned.
- Photo of nominee—High Resolution (300 dpi or higher)
Entry Requirements
All nominations for the Steven A. Millard Star Garnet Award, Trustee of the Year Award, Award of Excellence in Patient Care, and Excellence in Medicine Award, will be reviewed and scored on a 5-point Likert scale based on the criteria listed in the award description. Nominations for the Special Recognition of Retirement will be reviewed by IHA staff who will evaluate nominees based on the criteria listed in the award description.
For Junior Volunteer of the Year nominees only – please submit a one-page resume outlining the nominee’s community service, grades and extracurricular activities. Nominees should also include an essay written by the nominee, no more than two pages in length which addresses why they volunteer, a pivotal experience had while volunteering, and/or how volunteering will impact your future.
Award Presentation
Recipients of the Steven A. Millard Star Garnet, Trustee of the Year, Excellence in Medicine, Excellence in Patient Care, and Special Recognition of Retirement will be recognized at the Annual Convention in Sun Valley in October.
Nomination Deadline and Submission
All nominations must be received by IHA no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 29.
Questions?
Contact IHA
208.338.5100
education@teamiha.org
Award Information & Recent Recipients
Award Description:
The Steven A. Millard Star Garnet Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Idaho Hospital Association and recognizes significant career contributions and service to health care institutions and associations. It is presented to an individual who epitomizes the highest levels of excellence and achievement in such a way that others are inspired to excel. The recipient shall be an individual whose career achievements in the hospital or health field have provided leadership in health care delivery and service to patients and communities.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Steven A. Millard Star Garnet Award, the individual nominee must have exemplified outstanding leadership in the pursuit of healthcare excellence.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Dr. Bart Hill, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2024 – Odette Bolano, Trinity Health West Region/Saint Alphonsus Health System, Boise
2023 – Jon Ness, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2022 – Sheryl Rickard, Bonner General Health, Sandpoint
2021 – Governor Brad Little, State of Idaho, Boise
2020 – Cynthia ‘Cy’ Gearhard, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
Award Description:
The Trustee of the Year Award recognizes one hospital trustee who has made exemplary contributions to improve his or her hospital’s service to its patients and community by:
- Fostering and encouraging an organizational culture focused on delivering high quality care, achieving exemplary patient satisfaction and maintaining a positive work environment.
- Has demonstrated outstanding leadership and contributed to the continued viability of the organization.
- Has been successful in generating public interest in community healthcare needs and enhancing the overall quality and scope of access to healthcare services provided to the community, and, local, state or national healthcare initiatives.
- Has been involved in board development and recruitment, strategic and fiscal planning, building consensus within the organization, and with other healthcare providers and community stakeholders, advocating for improved healthcare in the state and/or local community.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Trustee of the Year Award, the individual nominee must:
- Represent an IHA-member hospital or health system in good standing.
- Have been actively involved with the hospital or health system within the last three years.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Robert Colvin, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2024 – Katie Brodie, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2023 – Elaine Bohn, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, Malad City
2022 – Arthur F. ‘Skip’ Oppenheimer, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2021 – Elden Koon, Boundary Community Hospital, Bonners Ferry
2020 – Darrel Anderson, Saint Alphonsus Health System, Boise
The Excellence in Medicine Award recognizes a physician who exemplifies the medical profession’s highest values: commitment to service, community involvement, clinical excellence, altruism and leadership in the medical profession. This individual will have made innovative contributions to the delivery of patient care by taking leadership actions to ensure quality patient care in his/her community and by displaying an unselfish concern for the welfare of others.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Excellence in Medicine Award, the individual must be a licensed MD or DO.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Dr. Kenneth Krell, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls
2024 – Terry Jeppson, Md, FACOG, Cassia Regional Hospital, Burley
2023 – Charles Novak, MD, Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital, Meridian
2022 – James ‘Jim’ Souza, MD, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2021 – Laura McGeorge, MD, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2020 – Samuel Gardner, MD, Steele Memorial Medical Center, Salmon
Award Description:
The Award of Excellence in Patient Care recognizes a clinical or non-clinical individual with a focus on patient care at any level within an organization. The recipient of this award must display professional knowledge by staying connected to emerging national, state and local patient care discussions, speaking on behalf of what is best for patients, and sharing his or her knowledge with interested colleagues and other healthcare stakeholders. The individual must also demonstrate their leadership ability as a patient care champion by implementing what they know, fostering and developing a culture of safety and elevating the importance of patient care innovation. The individual must embody a passion for collaborative learning, personifying an unselfish willingness to share ideas, methods, strategies, success stories and even disappointments, so that all patients and providers benefit from best practices.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Award of Excellence in Patient Care, the individual nominee must represent an IHA-member hospital or health system in good standing.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Chantelle Traughber, RN, Lost Rivers Medical Center, Arco
2024 – Ernest Esparza, RN, PMH-BC, MSN, Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital, Meridian
2023 – Ben Watland, RN, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise
2022 – Terry O’Connor, MD, St. Luke’s Wood River, Ketchum
2021 – Sky Blue, MD, Sawtooth Epidemiology, Boise
2020 – Noreen Womack, MD, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
Award Description:
The Special Recognition of Retirement recognizes outstanding executives (C-Suite) within IHA member hospitals/ health systems having served in capacities such as IHA board of directors and IHA committees.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Special Recognition of Retirement, the individual must have recently or will soon retire.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Dallas Clinger, Power County Hospital District, American Falls
2024 – N/A
2023 – Jeff Taylor, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2022 – Betty Watson, Syringa Hospital & Clinics, Grangeville
2021 – Sally Jeffcoat, Saint Alphonsus Health System/Trinity Health, Boise
2020 – David C. Pate, MD, JD, St. Luke’s Health System, Boise
2020 – Michelle Pond-Bell, Cassia Regional Hospital, Burley
Award Description:
The LOVE – Leader of Volunteer Excellence Award is presented to an exemplary adult volunteer. Nominees for this award should be the pinnacle of your hospital’s volunteer program and excel in areas like: patient services, community service, fund raising, leadership, or community outreach (just to name a few). When considering whom to nominate, think about that person whose work, personality, commitment, and compassion would be greatly missed if they quit coming to your hospital.
To nominate a volunteer, we request a letter by the volunteer services director, volunteer or auxiliary member, or a member of the hospital staff of not more than one page. Please make sure to include the following:
- number of years as a volunteer in the hospital;
- offices held, and
- other community service, volunteerism, or advocacy.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Vicky Durant, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2024 – John Edgar, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2023 – Sheila Carter, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls
2022 – Rio Setty, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2021 – Janie Nirk, Gritman Medical Center, Moscow
2020 – Carolyn Strong, Gritman Medical Center, Moscow
Award Description:
The Junior Volunteer of the Year Scholarship Award is presented to an outstanding young volunteer and includes a college scholarship.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be a student ages 14-19 who has participated at least 40 hours annually in a Junior Volunteer Program in an IHA member hospital, and who intends to seek higher education. If your hospital has a summer only volunteer program, please indicate that in your nomination packet to allow the scoring to be adjusted appropriately. For each nominee, their packet must contain the nomination information outlined above plus a resume and essay (see above). Please note that past winners are ineligible to reapply.
Recent Recipients:
2025 – Taryn Lommasson, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2024 – Hazel Howard, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2023 – Aatman Jindel, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise
2022 – Gracyn Kautzman, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene
2021 – Defne Yuksel, Gritman Medical Center, Moscow
2020 – Martina Hicks, Kootenai Health, Coeur d’Alene