CHICAGO – The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association celebrates the outstanding contributions by members to improve the health care physical environment with its annual member awards. Awardees were recognized during ASHE’s 59th Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition July 17-20 in Boston, Mass.

The Crystal Eagle Leadership Award, considered ASHE’s lifetime achievement award, was presented to Lt. Col. James A. Shoemaker, FASHE, MA, of Burlington, N.J. A longstanding member of ASHE, Shoemaker has served on the ASHE Advisory Board on multiple occasions and was president in 1994. He has been a constant fixture at the ASHE Annual Conference for decades, serving as an ASHE ambassador by welcoming and offering support to new conference attendees. Now retired from an exceptional career as a health care facilities professional, he remains active and engaged in ASHE affairs and most recently served on the Senior and Fellow Task force in 2021. “Jim has been a dedicated, consistent leader in the ASHE community, and we’re grateful for the innumerable contributions he’s made to our organization and health care facilities over the years,” Deputy Executive Director Chad Beebe, AIA, CHFM stated of the award winner. “ASHE would not be where it is today without his influence.”

The ASHE President’s Award, which is given at the discretion of the sitting ASHE president to an individual who goes above and beyond to optimize the health care physical environment, was presented to Michael A. Canales, CHFM, program director of the Healthcare Facilities Leadership Program at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) in Owensboro, Ky.

A dedicated health care facilities professional for nearly three decades, Canales left a position as director of facility services with the Riverside Health System in Virginia to pioneer an accredited associate degree program for health care facility managers at OCTC. Developed in collaboration with ASHE and the Kentucky Society of Healthcare Engineers, the program is the first of its kind in the United States and marks a significant milestone for the advancement of future generations of health care facilities leaders. Canales is currently working with OCTC to expand the two-year associate degree into an accredited four-year degree program.

Remarking on Canales’ achievements, ASHE President Shadie R. Rankhorn, Jr., SASHE, CHFM, CHC, said, “Who else has almost singlehandedly made such a vital and significant contribution to our field? … I simply could not think of anyone who more embodies the definition of making significant contributions to the health care facility management profession and going above and beyond the call of duty as an ASHE member.”

Also at the Annual Conference, ASHE will recognize members who attained senior (SASHE) and fellow (FASHE) status within ASHE this year.

The FASHE designation is bestowed upon those who have been ASHE members in good standing for at least ten years and have contributed to the field through education, leadership and written contributions. The following members are new FASHE recipients:

• Carol J. McCormick, CHFM, FASHE, CommonSpirit Health, Midwest Division, Omaha, Neb.
• Lennon Peake, FASHE, Koffel Compliance, LLC, Columbia, Md.
• James S. Peterkin, FASHE, TLC Engineering Solutions, Philadelphia, Pa.

The SASHE designation is bestowed on those who have been ASHE members in good standing for at least five years and have supported ASHE in terms of education and leadership. The following members are new SASHE recipients:

• Steven Filips, CHC, CHFM, SASHE, Temple University, Prospect Park, Pa.
• James E. Keyzer, CHFM, SASHE, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.
• Timothy E. Koch, SASHE, HDR, Omaha, Neb.
• Jacob McCall, CHFM, SASHE, Memorial Hermann, Humble, Texas
• Jordan Northcutt Plyler, SASHE, Baptist Health Medical Center, Little Rock, Ark.
• Kathryn R. Quinn, MHS, CHSP, SASHE, Saint Alphonsus Health System, Boise, Idaho
• Ryan Schramm, CHFM, CHC, SASHE, Banner Health, San Tan Valley, Ariz.
• Damian R. Skelton, CHFM, SASHE, Medxcel, Winchester, Tenn.
• Michael W. Wood, CHC, SASHE, Medxcel, Bloomfield, Colo.

ASHE’s Regional Leader Award recognizes individuals for their contributions to the fields of health care engineering and facility management; planning, design and construction; safety; clinical and biomedical engineering, and technical management.

• Region 1: Mark E. Robinson, CHFM, New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, Mass.
• Region 2: Steven Filips, CHC, CHFM, Temple University, Prospect Park, Pa.
• Region 3: G. Andy Woommavovah, CHFM, Trinity Health, Elizabethtown, Ky.
• Region 4: Jamey Grimes Greer, Ascension Providence Hospital, Mobile, Ala.
• Region 5: Jackie Raymond Evans, Medxcel – Ascension Health, Sterling Heights, Mich.
• Region 6: Eric M. Krause, CHFM, CHC, Allina Health, Hudson, Wis.
• Region 7: Allan R. Watkins, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
• Region 8: David J. Patterson, MBA, CHFM, Bryan Health, Lincoln, Neb.
• Region 9: Tom L. Peterson, Jr., CHFM, Adventist Health Glendale, Glendale, Calif.
• Region 10: Brady Housden, CHFM, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, Portland, Ore.

For more information on ASHE awards, visit ashe.org/about/awards.

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About ASHE
ASHE is a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association. More than 12,500 members rely on ASHE as a key source of professional development, industry information and advocacy, including representation on key issues that affect their work in the physical health care environment. For more information about ASHE, contact 312-422-3800 or visit www.ashe.org.