CHICAGO — Skilled nursing, senior living and home care leaders celebrated the accomplishments of dozens of professional standouts during the 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum ceremony.
The annual event has quickly become the best known celebration of long-term care’s up-and-coming and top-performing women. Fifty of this year’s 59 Hall of Honor, Veteran VIP, Rising Star and Spirit Award winners attended the gala, where peers and family members gathered to network and celebrate the accomplishments of changemakers from all over the country.
Lynn Hood, president and CEO of North Carolina-based Principle LTC, was honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Hood’s work has earned her the label of changemaker for long-term care, both for her ability to act confidently in emergencies and for being a champion of employees.
A degreed nurse, Hood became a long-term care administrator at age 24. She spent 27 years with HCR ManorCare and has served in her current position since 2017.
Hood dedicated her speech to women and other underserved populations and minorities in the long-term care industry.
Sharing the story of a gift from her mother — a necklace with a cracked circle of glass signifying Hood cracking the glass ceiling — she celebrated women over 50 who helped her break that ceiling. She called on women under 50 to “explode” it.
She also urged fellow leaders to surround themselves with the most talented people, then “get out of their way and watch them work.”
“Our industry has been crushed. We’re treated like the bad guys … but we do damn good work,” she said, calling on the industry to “be bold” and to “tell the world” about the good work its people do. “We have an honorable job. … Our patients deserve to feel good about coming to us.”
Women of Distinction honorees recognized in four categories:
• The Hall of Honor recognizes senior-level professionals in the C suite or at a level equivalent to vice president.
• Veteran VIPs have more than 15 years of experience and are making an impact in long-term care typically at a level lower than vice president or its equivalent.
• Rising Stars are candidates 40 or younger, or are of any age but have fewer than 15 years of experience in the profession. All have quickly demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the industry.
• Spirit Awards recognize inspiring service to communities, residents or patients.
“Congratulations to these extraordinary women,” said John O’Connor, McKnight’s editorial director, vice president and associate publisher. “Their unmatched commitment has made a significant impact on their organizations and especially on those they serve. By their deeds and examples, they truly exemplify what it means to be ‘Women of the Year.’”
The May 14 event at the JW Marriott began with an daytime forum featuring two educational sessions on addressing workforce shortages and recommitting to leadership development opportunities in trying times.
The forum was followed by a cocktail reception and formal dinner. Each woman was honored individually, and given the chance to select her own walk-up song to play as she picked up an engraved personalized trophy.
Healthcare Services Group is the Platinum sponsor of this year’s event. PointClickCare is the Gold sponsor. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Other sponsors are Curana Health, DirecTV, Easyshifts, Reliant Rehabilitation, ShiftKey and Sentrics.
From the July/August 2024 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
