The HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction — The Frist Humanitarian Award, HCA Innovators Award and HCA Excellence in Nursing Award — recognize exceptional efforts by individuals in the organization and are the company’s highest honors. Year after year, the recipients inspire their colleagues with their passion and spark a sense of pride because they embody the values and culture that make HCA Healthcare special.

At the 2017 Awards of Distinction ceremony in Nashville, the recipients were honored for their dedication to caring for patients and their perseverance in finding better ways to serve those patients and our communities. These qualities are the core of HCA Healthcare and drive our success in every way.

It’s no coincidence that these are the very same qualities that Dr. Thomas Frist, Jr., one of HCA Healthcare’s founders, possesses. For decades, he has been the company’s touchstone and epitomizes the combination of caring and business foresight that has allowed HCA Healthcare to be an industry leader. While HCA Healthcare continually looks toward the future, the strong foundation in the values Dr. Frist established in 1968 keeps the organization grounded. As HCA Healthcare celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018, the Awards of Distinction ceremony provided a wonderful platform to say thank you to Dr. Frist, Jr. for all that he means to the company.

A short documentary highlighting key moments in Dr. Frist, Jr.’s leadership at HCA Healthcare was shown at the event . Dr. Frist, Jr. has said many times that he considers the Awards of Distinction ceremony the most important date on HCA Healthcare’s calendar. Each finalist and recipient who was recognized this year lives out our shared mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. Dr. Frist Jr. created a huge legacy to live up to, yet our people do so day after day.

View the Awards of Distinction videos: