Gilchrist Honored with 2025 Circle of Life Award

I am proud to share that Gilchrist, GBMC HealthCare system’s leader in serious illness and end-of-life care, has been honored as one of two organizations in the country, to achieve the 2025 Circle of Life Award from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Our team officially accepted the award on Tuesday during the AHA Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN. This is the second time that Gilchrist has achieved this national recognition, which is one of the most prestigious in healthcare, given to programs that demonstrate exceptional innovation and leadership in delivering care to those with serious illness. It is a well-deserved achievement reflective of the vision, compassion, and expertise that define the Gilchrist team.

Receiving this award illustrates the importance our health system places on end-of-life care. It must always be that the patient has the right to choose to keep receiving potentially curative care. However, too often in our country, patients spend their final days in the hospital, undergoing intensive interventions that may not align with their wishes. This approach is not only emotionally and physically taxing for patients and families, but it is also one of the most costly and inefficient parts of our healthcare system. The truth is, most people would prefer to die at home, in peace, surrounded by loved ones. Hospice and palliative care make that possible. They allow us to shift the focus from curing to caring and providing comfort. 

By meeting patients where they are physically, emotionally, and spiritually, Gilchrist helps them live their final days with dignity and on their own terms. It also relieves stress for families, giving them the support and guidance they need at a deeply vulnerable time. In a healthcare landscape that often emphasizes volume and procedures, Gilchrist reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful care we can offer is simply presence, comfort, and connection. 

This is why we continue expanding high-quality end-of-life care to more communities across the region and focus on removing barriers for those who might otherwise go without. We believe every person, regardless of income, background, or geography, deserves the opportunity to receive care that honors their values at life’s end. 

This honor is the result of the fabulous work of the entire Gilchrist team, whose commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care continues to make a lasting impact. It also speaks to the leadership of President of Gilchrist Cathy Hamel, and Gilchrist’s Chief Medical Officer Mark Gloth, DO, who have guided this work with purpose and passion. Congratulations to the entire Gilchrist team on this well-deserved recognition. They are demonstrating what it means to provide the care we would want for our own loved ones and helping to reshape how our nation approaches the final chapter of life with dignity, empathy, and respect.