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MASHSMD Healthcare Excellence Awards: Call for Entries

 

On behalf of the Mid-Atlantic Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development Board of Directors and all MASHSMD members, welcome to the 2026 Excellence Awards competition! 

As the region’s premier healthcare strategy and marketing society, we proudly count many talented professionals among our membership—and it is our privilege to host an awards competition that spotlights the fine work they produce. 

The MASHSMD Excellence Awards are judged on a variety of factors, including creativity, strategy, implementation, and measurable results. The work entered into this competition not only recognizes the talent of our members, but it also serves to highlight the progressive and impactful organizations and agencies in our region.

The MASHSMD Excellence Awards are open to members, member organizations, and member agencies that have completed work on behalf of members and non-member organizations. A portion of all proceeds collected is donated to a MASHSMD college internship fund.

All winners will be announced at our Annual Conference, April 20-22 in Baltimore, MD.

Best of luck!

MASHSMD Board of Directors

Enter Now

Learning from 2025 Excellence Awards Winners

 

Best Overall and Gold, Integrated Marketing Campaign

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association – “Control Your Care” Campaign

The 2025 Platinum Award for Best Overall and Gold in Integrated Marketing goes to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) for its Control Your Care campaign.

When many Virginians were unaware of new healthcare reforms, including protections from surprise billing and tools for price transparency, VHHA launched a statewide public education initiative. With messaging delivered across TV, radio, digital advertising, and a user-friendly website, the campaign achieved millions of impressions and a measurable increase in public awareness. More than 70% of voters are familiar with these consumer protections today.

VHHA’s campaign reached people and helped them make more informed choices about their care.

See local press coverage about their efforts.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Eligibility 

The competition is open to individual MASHSMD members, member healthcare providers, ad agencies, and creative firms. 

MASHSMD members who are not healthcare providers (e.g., advertising agencies, research, creative or interactive firms, etc.) located in MASHSMD states are welcome to submit entries for any of their healthcare clients, even if the client is not a MASHSMD member.

The program or project must have been in the market between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, to be eligible for judging. 

Entry fees must be received within two weeks of the deadline date. 

Deadlines and Entry Fee 

Final Deadline: February 7, 2025

We encourage you to submit multiple projects or assets for awards. However, you may only submit each project once and in one category.

One entry = $80
2-3 entries = $75 each
4-6 entries = $65 each
7+ entries = $50 each

Payment is expected at the time you submit your entries. You can pay via credit card on the entry platform.

When Will Awards Be Presented 

Awards will be presented at our 2026 Annual Conference. 

Benefits

An Excellence Award can boost your organization's reputation and bring a morale boost to your team. To support winning organizations and individuals, we recognize award winners in a number of ways:

  • Recognition during a special presentation at the MASHSMD Annual Conference

  • Printed certificates to display (perfect for agencies to give to clients)

  • Web badges to post on your website and social channels

  • A press release template for your team to announce your award

  • Promotion through the MASHSMD website and social channels

  • Platinum winners have an opportunity to share their project at the Annual Conference

 

Judging 

The objective of the MASHSMD Excellence Awards is to recognize and reward creative and strategic excellence in healthcare marketing and communications. Each entry is reviewed by two judges who are acknowledged leaders within their field. Judges are assigned categories based on their professional experience and expertise. Three winners, (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) will be awarded in each category (must have a minimum score of 40 points out of a 60-point maximum).

 

Avoid Disqualification 

Entries must be for work completed by or for MASHSMD members. Member agencies can submit work created for non-member organizations. Entry fees must be received within two weeks of the deadline date. 

 

How To Submit Your Entries 

All entries must be completed online.

Entry submission is only available to MASHSMD members. 

Go to the MASHSMD Awards Entry Portal at: https://awards.judgify.me/mashsmd

 

Step 1: Register

  • Create a user profile for Judgify. 

  • Fill out the brief registration form for the individual who is responsible if assistance is needed with the entry. 

  • You will only have to register once. You may submit multiple entries under one account. 

 

Step 2: Submit Entry 

  • Create each entry individually by filling out the entire submission form once for each entry. 

  • Complete your situation, strategy, and success story. This is the meat of your entry and the most important piece (limit 500 words for each area).

  • Name your entry file with your organization and project name. 

  • Upload any supporting materials. Supporting materials are how the judges review your entry. Include images, links to live work, and metrics to support your success story. 

Step 3: Submit Payment 

  • Complete this step after you have submitted all your entries. You may pay by credit card online. 

 

CATEGORIES
You may submit project nominations under six (6) different categories. You may submit multiple nomination entries, but you may not enter the same project in multiple categories. For each category, there will be a Bronze, Silver, and Gold award. There will also be one Platinum award (best overall). 

Integrated Marketing Campaigns 

  • Includes multi-channel initiatives working toward the same goal. Entries can include social media, email, website content, print collateral, advertising, events, and other marketing and advertising efforts. 

Advertising Campaign

  • Includes content, creative and planning for all forms of advertising. Including but not limited to:

    • TV, print, and radio ads

    • Online and digital advertising

    • OOH, billboard and transit advertising

Public Relations and Communications

  • Includes, PR/media relations campaigns, managing a crisis communications event, community/grassroots outreach for a campaign, and event PR

  • Internal communications

Content Creation and Management

  • Includes blogs, bylined articles, newsletters, and other written content

  • Ebooks and whitepapers

  • Content strategy and management

Branding, Design, and Visuals

  • Includes photography, video, and graphic design for marketing materials

  • Logo and visual branding design 

Innovative and Emerging Strategies

  • Includes the use of AR/VR, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies in campaigns

  • Innovative data analytics applications in campaigns

  • Creative use of resources to solve a problem

  • Creation of a winning marketing plan

 

SITUATION, STRATEGY, SUCCESS STORY

To prepare for filling out your entry, below are recommendations for the kind of information that should be included in each field. These parameters are guidelines, not requirements. 

The Situation

Describe the factors in the marketplace or organization that created the need for this publication/project/campaign, etc. Explain the problem(s), opportunity(s) and objectives(s) that guided the development of the strategy/project/campaign, etc. 

The Strategy 

Discuss the techniques, methods, and approaches used to achieve your objectives and/or solve the problem. 

The Success

Provide documentation of the success of the project, such as inquiries, patient visits, views, impressions, press clippings, or positive feedback that demonstrate that you met objectives. The results documentation should contain factual information and confirm the achievement of pre-determined goals. All supporting materials should be uploaded as part of your entry. 

For entries in creative categories (Graphic Design, Logo, Photography, and Writing Projects): Provide qualitative documentation of the success of the project, including all the elements that went into your creative process, so that judges can evaluate your entry on how successfully it was executed. What was your original theme/idea? How does the creative work answer the problem/challenge you set out to solve? How is the style of the creative work suited for your target audience? What is unique and memorable about the creative work? What visual and/or emotional experience were you striving to create? 

 
 

Past Winners