ASHRM Health Care Risk Professional of the Year Award
This award honors an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation, and service in the health care risk profession.
The ASHRM Health Care Risk Professional of the Year Award is sponsored by 
Congratulations to the 2025 Health Care Risk Professional of the Year!
Poonam M. Panicker
Sr. Corporate Quality & Patient Safety Manager
Mediclinic Middle East
Eligibility
- Current risk manager.
- ASHRM member.
- Contributor to the field through certification, presentations, or chapter leadership.
- Self-nominations are allowed.
Criteria
- Collaborative and effective leadership.
- Innovation in overcoming risk challenges.
- Service to the risk management community.
- Implementation of impactful risk programs.
What Do the Recipients Get?
- Engraved prestigious crystal award.
- One complimentary registration to ASHRM's annual conference.
- A spotlight in the following year's HRM Week.
- Will be honored during the ASHRM in-person annual conference.
Past Award Recipients
2024: Joann Wortham-Moody, RN, DNP, JD, CPHRM
2023: Tracy L. Melina, DFASHRM
2022: Paul John D'Aquila, RN, JD, CPHRM
2021: Jean B. Hood, RN, MSN, CPHRM, CPPS, FASHRM
2020: Barbara McCarthy, RN, MPH, CIC, CPHQ, CPHRM, FASHRM
2019: Karen Garvey, DFASHRM, CPHRM, CPPS
2018: Rebecca Cady, Esq., BSN, CPHRM, DFASHRM, FACHE