In September, the Chattanooga Times Free Press and Edge Magazine will once again honor individuals making a difference in the local health care community at the ninth annual Champions of Health Care awards banquet.

A panel of judges, all leaders in the local health care industry, will select the winners. Nominations for exceptional individuals or organizations in nine health care categories are open until July 1. Tickets for the September awards program will go on sale Aug. 1.

One winner in each category will be announced at an awards luncheon this fall and will be profiled in the September issue of Edge magazine. This year’s event will be held at The Chattanoogan Hotel on Sept. 5.

The Times Free Press began Champions of Health Care in 2016 to help increase awareness of the quality of health care in the region and to recognize outstanding leaders who are advancing medical care through their professional and volunteer activities.

(READ MORE: Honoring Chattanooga’s 2023 Health Care Champions)

Any individual may nominate a person or organization at championschatt.com for the following awards:

— The administrative excellence award honors a health care administrator whose performance, care and leadership are considered exemplary by patients and peers.

— The health care volunteer award honors a health care volunteer who has demonstrated commitment and passion for serving those in need.

— The non-physician practitioner award honors a health care provider other than a doctor (ex. nurse, pharmacist, physician’s assistant, researcher, technician, etc.) whose performance is considered exemplary by patients and peers.

— The community outreach award honors a company or organization that works beyond its primary role to focus attention on a pressing health care issue or help solve a community health problem.

— The innovation in health care award honors a company or organization that led the way in a scientific discovery or new process, device or service that can save lives or improve the quality of lives.

— The physician award honors a doctor whose performance is considered exemplary by patients and peers.

— The diversity and inclusion in medicine award honors an individual or company making strides in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the local medical community.

— The lifetime achievement award honors a health care leader who has left a legacy on the quality and delivery of health care.

— The rising star award honors an up-and-coming health professional who is contributing to the health of their community and building an exemplary career.

Champions of Health Care is once again presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and is sponsored by First Horizon Bank, NACS and the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Medical Society.

— Compiled by Jennifer McNally