Last week, The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) recognized Hennepin Healthcare with awards in three areas: Communicator of the Year, Patient and Family Engagement award and Committee Stewardship award. These awards were presented at MHA's 2025 Spring Innovation Forum this past week, where health system teams and individuals from across Minnesota were honored for their work in supporting the health care workforce and improving quality and safety.
Communicator of the Year- Christine Hill
Media Relations Manager Christine Hill was honored with the Communicator of the Year award for her outstanding leadership in storytelling, relationship-building, and communication. The Communicator of the Year award honors a hospital communicator for their exceptional contributions to sharing their hospital's stories with key audiences, building relationships and trust with the community, identifying moments that matter within the organization and creating communications that amplify their organizations mission. In her 23 years at Hennepin Healthcare, Christine has earned deep trust from patients, colleagues, and media partners across the state. As a one-person media relations team, Christine helped generate more than 2,800 media mentions in 2024, amplifying patient voices, provider expertise, and vital public health information. Her strategic and thoughtful media outreach has led to local, regional, and national coverage reflecting the work and mission of our organization. Christine is known for centering patients in every story, building lasting relationships within and beyond our walls, and adapting quickly in high-pressure situations. She tells patient stories, spotlights the challenges that our providers and caregivers rise to meet each day, and shares important health information with the public through the stories she pitches. Her work strengthens our connection to the community and reinforces the essential role of healthcare in people's lives.
Patient and Family Engagement Award- Cultural Navigators
The Cultural Navigator team was honored with the Patient and Family Engagement award for its innovative approach to culturally responsive care and patient advocacy. This award recognizes a team that is successful at using collaboration to drive improvement throughout the organization. Representing the American Indian, African American, Latine, Somali, and Hmong communities, the six navigators help patients and families in inpatient units feel seen, heard, and supported. By bridging cultural gaps, they ensure care teams understand patients' traditions, values, and communication preferences. Navigators advocate for patients, build trusted relationships, and serve as consistent, familiar faces throughout the care journey. In collaboration with departments, navigators share resource guides, host regular huddles, and lead culturally informed care planning. In 2024, they launched the Cultural Engagement Series to deepen staff understanding of the communities they serve, with sessions on Hmong mental health, traditional medicine, Somali resilience, and more. As the program grows, the Cultural Navigators continue to enrich patient care and promote equity by centering culture, connection, and trust.
MHA Committee Stewardship Award- Lori Johnson
Vice President of Performance Improvement and Safety, Lori Johnson, R.N., received the MHA Committee Stewardship Award for her nearly two decades of dedicated leadership on the MHA Quality and Safety Committee, where she has served as chair since 2018. The Committee Stewardship award recognizes an individual for their contributions to MHA Quality and Safety Committees by serving as a leader on the committee's served. Under Lori's guidance, the committee has grown to meet the changing needs of Minnesota hospitals, leading efforts to strengthen collaboration, improve transparency, and respond proactively to emerging challenges in patient safety. Her leadership has shaped major initiatives, including the development of MHA's safety and quality road maps and the launch of statewide training programs and the Quality Conference. Lori also played a key role in supporting hospitals during implementation of the Nurse Patient Safety Act, establishing member workgroups and resources to help organizations navigate new requirements effectively. Her teamwork and strong understanding of quality and safety have earned her respect from colleagues across the state. As MHA's Quality and Safety Director, John Sellner, puts it: "Lori has been an amazing partner and champion for quality and safety for all hospitals in Minnesota. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award."
