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. It is NAHDO's pleasure to present the 2020 Elliot M. Stone Award of Excellence in Health Data Leadership to Suanne Singer and Al Prysunka. They are being recognized not only for their individual contributions but also for the combined efforts and dedication to the belief that access to healthcare data is essential to make progress toward a more affordable health care system with better outcomes and improved access to care.

2023 Recipient - Karynlee Harrington 

Karynlee Harrington is the Executive Director of the Maine Health Data Organization and the Maine Quality Forum. Karynlee served for many years on the NAHDO Board, including as chair from June 2019 until December 2022. Under Karynlee’s leadership, the MHDO has become the primary source of reliable healthcare information for use within the State of Maine and by external researchers. The MHDO’s wealth of information is being used more than ever to inform health care policy throughout Maine. Karynlee has created a culture where stakeholder data needs are met through continuous improvement, ongoing engagement, and flexibility. During her time, MHDO has supported legislation including transparency of health care costs and quality, surprise billing, worker's compensation, MaineCare rate setting, opioid analyses, insulin costs, primary care and behavioral health care spending in Maine, ambulance costs, prescription drug costs, right to shop, Maine’s reinsurance program, and the Office of Affordable HealthCare.

As board chair, Karynlee led the NAHDO Transformation efforts that have put the association on a trajectory for success and a sustainable path forward.