Elliot M. Stone Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership

Since 1990, NAHDO has presented the NAHDO Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership to one or more individuals who represent the highest ideals in data collection, analysis, or outcomes measurement and whose creative efforts have made outstanding contributions to improvements in the collection, application, and/or dissemination of health data. Until his passing in 2005, Elliot Stone helped NAHDO select awardees who made significant contributions to the health information field and who exhibited characteristics of quality, excellence, and passion in their work---characteristics that Elliot himself embodied.

In 2005, following Elliot Stone’s untimely passing, the NAHDO Board renamed its annual award, the “Elliot Stone Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership”, in honor of Elliot and in acknowledgement of his generosity, care, and diligence to the field and to his colleagues. Elliot set the highest standards for his own performance and for others to follow. At NAHDO’s 20th Anniversary Meeting in Washington, D.C., the first Elliot Stone Award of Excellence was presented posthumously by NAHDO to Elliot’s wife and sons.

2025 Recipient - Ben Steffen

L to R: Norm Thurston, Ben Steffen, Tanya Bernstein

Ben Steffen has served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission for the past 14 years, and during that time, has truly transformed how health data is collected, analyzed, and used to improve healthcare delivery in Maryland. Under his exceptional leadership, the MHCC has developed quality reporting and consumer price transparency programs that stand as models for the nation. Maryland’s groundbreaking 'Wear the Cost' initiative perfectly exemplifies Ben's commitment to transparency, offering both consumers and policymakers unprecedented insights into the complexities of healthcare costs and quality across providers. This initiative has not only empowered Maryland residents to make more informed choices but has also fostered greater accountability within the healthcare system.

Ben has also been instrumental in systematically expanding the MHCC's data capabilities, overseeing the collection and analysis of a vast array of health data from facilities and insurers statewide. His strategic approach has been pivotal in facilitating informed decision-making for everyone involved in healthcare, from individual patients to those shaping system-wide policy. The robust data infrastructure he has built serves as a vital foundation for evidence-based policy development and crucial healthcare improvement initiatives. What truly sets Ben apart is his remarkable ability to translate intricate data into clear, actionable insights that drive meaningful and lasting change in healthcare delivery. His unwavering dedication to leveraging health data for system-wide improvement, coupled with a deeply collaborative approach to working with diverse stakeholders, makes him an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Elliott Stone Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership.