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Jeffrey A. Flaks Recognized as Healthcare Innovator

February 02, 2026

Jeffrey A. Flaks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hartford HealthCare, has been named the inaugural HX26 Innovator of the Year, a new award from Press Ganey, the leading provider of experience measurement, data analytics and AI-powered insights for health systems and health plans.

Introduced in 2026, the Innovator of the Year award honors executives who embed innovation into the daily operations of healthcare — solving real problems, reducing friction for care teams and improving the way patients experience care. Flaks accepted the award at Press Ganey’s HX26 Conference in Orlando.

Under Flaks’ leadership, Hartford HealthCare has emerged as one of the most forward-looking health systems in the country, guided by a clear, mission-driven purpose: making healthcare more accessible, more equitable and easier to navigate. This strategic focus intentionally blends cutting-edge capabilities — including virtual care, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics — into clinical and operational workflows to meaningfully improve care delivery.

A visible example of this work is HHC 24/7, Hartford HealthCare’s virtual primary care platform, which gives patients round-the-clock access to both scheduled and on-demand clinical care. Designed to meet patients where they are, the platform reflects Hartford HealthCare’s commitment to reimagining access while preserving continuity, quality and affordability.

Investing in innovation

At the same time, Flaks has emphasized that innovation must enhance the experience of working in healthcare. Hartford HealthCare has made targeted investments in tools and technologies that reduce administrative burden and empower clinicians to practice at the top of their license, recognizing that workforce well-being and patient experience are deeply interconnected.

Earlier in 2025, Flaks was also honored with the Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO, presented by Costs of Care in partnership with The Leapfrog Group. The award recognizes courageous and ethical leadership in addressing the twin challenges of quality and affordability — a reflection of Hartford HealthCare’s strategic framework that centers Access, Affordability, Health Equity and Excellence.

“I’m deeply honored to receive both the HX26 Innovator of the Year and Steven Schroeder awards — recognitions that speak not to an individual, but to the extraordinary commitment of our Hartford HealthCare colleagues,” said Flaks. “Our innovation journey is rooted in a simple but profound belief: healthcare should be easier to access, better coordinated and more equitable for every person we serve. These honors reinforce that when you bring mission and innovation together with compassion and collaboration, the impact reaches far beyond our doors — into homes, neighborhoods and lives across Connecticut and beyond.”

Patrick T. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Press Ganey, added, “Jeff Flaks treats innovation as a responsibility to move healthcare forward. He is relentless in pushing progress that improves safety, expands access and raises the standard of care. At Hartford HealthCare, Jeff has built the teams, partnerships and operating discipline needed to scale new models of care without losing sight of reliability and trust. His leadership keeps innovation grounded in outcomes that matter most to patients, families and caregivers.”