The HBA Announces Winners of the Global Leadership Awards

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Global Leadership Awards, recognizing the volunteer leaders, chapters, regions, and affinity groups who are advancing the HBA’s mission and shaping the future of leadership across the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem. 

As the organization’s highest honor for Member Leaders, the Global Leadership Awards celebrate those who are not only delivering excellence—but building community, elevating others, and driving measurable impact across HBA’s global network. Honorees are peer-nominated and rigorously selected, reflecting the strength, integrity, and shared accountability of HBA’s volunteer-led model.

From individual changemakers to high-performing chapters and regions, these awards spotlight leadership across corporate relations, education and events, engagement, marketing and communications, innovation, and operational performance. Together, the 2025 honorees represent more than achievement: they embody the collaborative, human-centered leadership fueling the HBA’s global community and accelerating progress across the healthcare ecosystem. 

2025 Global Leadership Award Winners: 

Chair Award: LeAnna Carey
Recognized for more than two decades of dedicated service and her leadership in the HBA’s Global Ambassador Program, LeAnna has strengthened onboarding, leadership development, and sponsor engagement, supporting over 100 emerging leaders in 2025. Her servant leadership and ability to connect talent with opportunity have expanded GAP’s sustainability and global reach, enhancing its value for members and corporate partners alike. 

Chapter Excellence Award: 
HBA Northern New Jersey Chapter 
Delivered over 60 percent revenue growth, expanded to six corporate sponsors, and grew membership nearly 50 percent to more than 1,400. Community partnerships and volunteer initiatives strengthened local impact. 

HBA Chicago–Northern Suburbs Chapter 
Hosted 16 events, tripled non-member attendance, exceeded revenue goals, and restored engagement to pre-pandemic levels through strategic programming and succession planning. 

Regional Excellence Award: HBA Pacific Region 
Exceeded sponsorship goals by more than 200 percent, supported nearly 90 mentoring participants, and activated 200+ volunteer leaders across five chapters while delivering over 150 events and sharing best practices globally. 

Chapter Leader Achievement Award: Melva Covington 
Led the successful rebuilding and rebranding of the Greater Washington Metro Chapter, recruiting new leadership and sustaining momentum during a period of regional workforce disruption. 

Regional Leader Achievement Award: Belle Roels 
Expanded HBA’s presence across Oceania by supporting growth in Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland while laying groundwork for Perth, strengthening a scalable regional model. 

Corporate Relations Achievement Award: Alexine Tranquada 
Secured strategic partnerships and elevated regional programming through collaborations with Deloitte, BioLabs, Health Wildcatters, and RedStix, while helping shape the 2025 Southwest Regional Conference. 

Education & Events Achievement Award: Christina Alarcon 
Guided programming through operational change while consistently delivering high-quality events and mentoring emerging leaders across HBA’s programming community. 

Engagement Achievement Award: Kristin Zeigler 
Launched the “Colleague Connect” networking series and volunteer engagement calls, making participation more accessible and strengthening member connection. 

Marketing & Communications Achievement Award: Elizabeth Dolgos 
Ensured consistent campaign execution, mentored new volunteers, and introduced speaker video content that significantly increased event registrations. 

Innovation Award: Stephanie Raspa 
Led career transition programming focused on resume development, personal branding, and future skills, supporting members through pivotal career moments. 

2025 Affinity Group Award Winners: 

Affinity Group Excellence Award: Mosaic Leadership Collective 
Expanded membership to 500, led a member-driven rebrand, and launched collaborative initiatives that strengthened cross-sector impact. 

Affinity Group Leader Achievement Award: Dorothea Sanchez (Patient Centricity Affinity Group)
Grew global membership to 400+ and positioned patient centricity as a core leadership focus. 

Affinity Group Education & Events Achievement Award: Carrie Brubaker (Digital Innovators Affinity Group)
Launched a quarterly learning series and strategic roadmap that expanded global participation. 

Affinity Group Marketing & Communications Achievement Award: Pushpinder Kaur Gill (Mosaic Leadership Collective)
Developed a scalable marketing framework and strengthened brand consistency and team collaboration. 

Affinity Group Engagement Achievement Award: Annalise Jarski (Voices of Tomorrow Affinity Group)
Strengthened member connection and inclusive engagement for emerging leaders worldwide.