ApolloMD Announces 2026 Leadership Award Recipients, Honoring Excellence Across Emergency and Hospital Medicine
ApolloMD honored its 2026 Leadership Award recipients during its annual Leadership Conference, celebrating clinicians and teams across Emergency Medicine and Hospital Medicine for their leadership, clinical excellence, and dedication to their colleagues, hospital partners, patients, and communities.
The celebration comes during a year of national recognition for ApolloMD, including being named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare and receiving both national and Atlanta Best and Brightest Companies to Work For honors. Together, these achievements reflect ApolloMD’s continued focus on building a strong workplace culture and supporting the clinicians, local practices, and teams who care for patients every day.
Lead APC of the Year Award
The Lead APC of the Year Award recognizes advanced practice clinicians who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to their teams and practices. Whether mentoring colleagues, stepping into leadership roles, or finding new ways to support their departments, this year’s recipients consistently lead by example and support those around them.
Emergency Medicine
- Raejonna Pascarella, PA-C – Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center
- David Iliano, PA-C – Mercy Health Lorain Hospital
- Daniel Lowder, PA-C – CaroMont Regional Medical Center
- Kaitlain Cavendar, NP – Riverside Medical Center
- Dana Smallwood, NP – Baptist Health Floyd – Jeffersonville
Hospital Medicine
- Shannon Barnes, NP – Baptist Hospital
Medical Director of the Year Awards
Medical directors play an important role in bringing clinicians and hospital partners together while keeping their local teams focused on delivering excellent patient care. This year’s recipients were honored for the guidance they provide for their practice and the strong relationships they’ve built with the people they serve.
Emergency Medicine
- Ben Bowman, MD – Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital
- Rob Hamilton, MD – Erlanger Health East Hospital
Hospital Medicine
- Imran Nasir, MD – Baptist Health Floyd
- Monica Panwar Barnes, MD – North Okaloosa Medical Center
- John Thornton, MD – Baptist Health Care Pensacola
Leadership Excellence Award
The Leadership Excellence Award celebrates individuals who consistently lead by example and make an impact through their dedication to their teams, willingness to take on new challenges, and commitment to supporting those around them.
- Marjory Langer, MD – St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center
- Nilesh Patel, DO – St. Joseph’s University Medical Center
Rookie Medical Director of the Year
The Rookie Medical Director of the Year Award honors an emerging physician leader who has quickly demonstrated the ability build strong relationships, guide their ream, and make a meaningful contribution within their practice.
- Ricky Rechenmacher, MD – Rush-Copley Medical Center
Practice of the Year
The Practice of the Year Award celebrates a clinical team that has made a positive impact on its practice, patients, and hospital partner through strong collaboration and quality care.
This year’s award was presented to the clinicians of Aurora Emergency Physicians, who support the Rush Copley Emergency Department. Their work has helped strengthen the emergency department, support their fellow clinicians, and provide high-quality care to the patients and community they serve.
Nursing Leader of the Year
The Nursing Leader of the Year Award celebrates a leader who has made a lasting impact through their support of clinicians, patients and the entire care team.
- Jennifer Perry, RN, BA, MSN, TNS, CEN
- Becky Kovack, MBA, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, TNS
A Celebration of Leadership and Excellence
Behind each of these awards are leaders and teams who show up every day ready to support their colleagues, strengthen their practices, and deliver exceptional care for their patients.
Congratulations to all ApolloMD 2026 Leadership Award recipients. Thank you for the expertise, dedication, and leadership you bring to ApolloMD, our hospital partners, and the communities we serve.