Stephanie D. Conners Receives First Louise Whitfield Carnegie Award in Healthcare Leadership

Recognizing Excellence in Healthcare Leadership: The Inaugural Louise Whitfield Carnegie Award

On April 14, 2026, the TIAA Institute, in partnership with Becker's Healthcare, highlighted the important contributions of exceptional leaders in the health sector by presenting the inaugural Louise Whitfield Carnegie Award for Leadership Excellence in Healthcare to Stephanie D. Conners, the esteemed President and CEO of BayCare Health System. This award serves to honor individuals who have not only excelled in their roles but have also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving healthcare for communities.

Paying Tribute to a Visionary Leader

The award is named after Louise Whitfield Carnegie, a noted philanthropist known for her leadership of the Carnegie Corporation in New York, which advanced various significant societal causes during the early 20th century. Notably, her husband, Andrew Carnegie, founded TIAA in 1918 to ensure educators could have secure retirements.

Stephanie Conners has made substantial strides in her position, transforming BayCare Health System into a leading provider of academic healthcare in West Central Florida. Under her guidance, the system operates 16 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities, serving one-third of the regional healthcare needs.

A Vision for Comprehensive Care

Conners is recognized not just for managing a large healthcare system but for her forward-thinking approach towards comprehensive healthcare. Currently, she is spearheading a $2.9 billion investment plan aimed at enhancing the care continuum, from complex quaternary care to home-based patient services. Her philosophy of care revolves around the mantra of being responsive from