Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO

Jeffrey A. Flaks, President and CEO of Hartford HealthCare

Under Mr. Flaks’ leadership, Hartford HealthCare has become a nationally recognized model for excellence and equity, serving more than 28,000 people every day. The system’s strategic framework, known internally as A2E2—Access, Affordability, Health Equity, and Excellence—guides every initiative.

Quality Achievements:

• Hartford HealthCare earned the American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Prize in 2025—the only health system in the nation to receive this top honor.
• Hospital-acquired infections reduced by 76% over the past decade, and serious safety events decreased by 67% since 2019.

Affordability Initiatives:

• Neighborhood Health brings care directly to underserved communities, with more than 12,000 patient visits since 2021.
• Medical Mission Days provide free care and resources to thousands of Connecticut residents.
• More than 43% of surgeries now occur in high-quality, lower-cost ambulatory settings, reducing costs by an average of 26%.

Hartford HealthCare ranks in the top 20% nationally for price transparency, offering tools and financial assistance to help patients understand and manage costs.

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