AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 22, 2026)– The Texas Hospital Association announced its annual award winners during the THA Annual Conference in Fort Worth.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
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The awards presented at this year’s annual THA Conference include THA’s Bill Aston Award for Quality, Excellence in Community Service Award, Pioneer Award and HOSPAC Star Award.
Award recipients include:
- Adam Willman, FACHE, President/CEO, Goodall-Witcher Healthcare, Clifton
HOSPAC Star Award - Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine (Grapevine)
Bill Aston Award for Quality: Academic Institution or Large Teaching Hospital or Health System - Candice Smith, MSN, CEO, Hereford Regional Medical Center – Deaf Smith Co. Hospital District
Pioneer Award - CHRISTUS Santa Rosa – Westover Hills (San Antonio)
Bill Aston Award for Quality: Academic Institution or Large Teaching Hospital or Health System (Honorable Mention) - Texas Health Resources
Excellence in Community Service Award - United Regional Health Care System (Wichita Falls)
Bill Aston Award for Quality: Non-Research/Non-Teaching Hospital or Health System
“These recipients show what is possible when strong leadership is matched by a deep commitment to patients and communities,” said John Hawkins, president/CEO of THA. “Their work is making a difference in the lives of Texans today while helping shape a stronger future for healthcare across our state.”
Awards details:
THA’s Bill Aston Award for Quality honors hospitals’ measurable success in improving quality and patient outcomes through the sustained implementation of a national and/or state evidence-based patient care initiative.
The Bill Aston Award for Quality in the Academic Institution or Large Teaching Hospital or Health System category is received by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine for its Sustained Reduction of Hypoglycemia Through Nurse-Led, Physician-Engaged Practice Across Critical Care and Step-Down Cardiac Care initiative. Beginning in the intensive care unit, nurses and physicians worked together to identify contributing factors and strengthen glucose monitoring, nutrition planning and communication during multidisciplinary rounds. Following sustained improvement in the ICU, the approach was replicated in the cardiovascular unit, creating a scalable model for reducing hypoglycemia and improving patient safety.
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa – Westover Hills (San Antonio) is an honorable mention honoree for the Bill Aston Award for Quality in the Academic Institution or Large Teaching Hospital or Health System category for its CSR WH Sepsis Journey to Excellence. The initiative established a standardized, high-reliability approach to sepsis care focused on earlier identification, consistent workflows, frontline education and daily accountability. SEP-01 compliance improved from 62% in FY24 to 92% in FY26 year-to-date, while observed sepsis mortality and length of stay also declined.
The Bill Aston Award for Quality in the Non-Research/Non-Teaching Hospital or Health System category is received by United Regional Health Care System (Wichita Falls) for Coding for Quality, a systemwide initiative designed to align clinical documentation, coding accuracy and real-time case review. A multidisciplinary team brought together Quality, Clinical Documentation Integrity, Health Information Management, Coding and clinical teams to strengthen surveillance, documentation and case validation. Since the initiative launched, total Patient Safety Indicators declined 41%, while collaboration and reporting accuracy improved.
The HOSPAC Star Award recognizes outstanding hospital leaders and trustees who go above and beyond to support HOSPAC, the state and federal political action committees for THA.
The HOSPAC Star Award is received by Adam Willman, FACHE, President/CEO, Goodall-Witcher Healthcare, Clifton.
The THA Pioneer Award is given to a CEO/administrator of a rural hospital or healthcare system who demonstrates creative and innovative management achievements and leadership within the organization and community.
The Pioneer Award is received by Candice Smith, MSN, CEO of Hereford Regional Medical Center – Deaf Smith County Hospital District.
THA’s Excellence in Community Service Award recognizes hospitals and healthcare systems that have distinguished themselves through contributions to their community.
The Excellence in Community Service Award is received by Texas Health Resources for A Comprehensive Approach to Nutrition Security, a systemwide strategy that improves access to affordable, nutritious food while strengthening local food systems across North Texas.
About THA
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and healthcare systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85% of the state’s acute-care hospitals and healthcare systems, which employ some 400,000 healthcare professionals statewide.