The MHA announced the winners of its 2026 Healthcare Leadership Award June 25 during its Annual Membership Meeting. Each year, the MHA recognizes outstanding individuals who have provided remarkable leadership to healthcare organizations and to the health and well-being of the community.
The 2026 recipients are Shawn Ulreich, senior vice president of clinical operations and chief nurse executive, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids; and Bill Manns, president and CEO, Bronson Healthcare, Kalamazoo. The MHA will donate $1,000 on behalf of each award winner to the charity of their choice. These funds were provided to the MHA by the family of former MHA President H. Allen Barth.
Manns joined Bronson Healthcare in 2020 and has guided the organization through significant disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce challenges and financial pressures. His leadership has strengthened Bronson’s long-term sustainability, expanded access to care and advanced growth across key service lines in Southwest Michigan.
He has led a focused effort to improve operations and care delivery, including expanding ambulatory access and investing in digital tools such as AI-enabled documentation, ambient listening and workflow automation. These efforts have reduced administrative burden, improved efficiency and allowed care teams to spend more time with patients, while also enhancing access through tools that connect patients to earlier appointments.
Manns also strengthened collaboration across the organization by establishing a formal partnership between administration and medical staff, expanding shared governance and increasing physician involvement in strategic and operational decision-making. In addition, he has championed initiatives that extend beyond the health system, supporting partnerships that address socioeconomic issues like food insecurity and reduce barriers to care.
Manns also served as chair of the MHA Board of Trustees for the 2025–26 program year, providing leadership and strategic direction for hospitals and health systems across the state.
At Mann’s request, the $1,000 monetary portion of the award will go to the Fatherhood Network in Kalamazoo.
Ulreich serves as the chief nurse executive for Corewell Health West. In her 22 year tenure in the organization, she has provided executive leadership for multiple clinical departments including pharmacy, laboratory services and surgical services. Her leadership experience focuses on aligning clinical excellence with operational performance to support safe, coordinated, high-quality care.
A hallmark of Ulreich’s career has been her leadership in advancing Magnet Recognition as a framework for nursing excellence. Under her guidance, Corewell Health Grand Rapids achieved Magnet designation four times, reflecting sustained excellence in professional nursing practice, patient outcomes and organizational performance. Ulreich also spearheaded the development of systemwide nursing governance structures, workforce strategy initiatives and leadership development, fostering alignment between clinical nurses and organizational leaders.
Ulreich’s leadership extends across both clinical and operational domains, including care model design, workflow improvement and the implementation of new technologies. She has supported the adoption of approaches including ambient and AI-supported documentation, virtual nursing and hospitality-based care models, helping streamline workflows and enhance how care is delivered while building a stronger, more sustainable nursing practice environment.
Ulreich has requested for her monetary award to go to Corewell Health Foundation West Michigan’s Nursing Career Center.
The MHA congratulates the winners of the 2026 MHA Healthcare Leadership Award.
