The American Hospital Association, in partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association, has recognized Eric Ammons, regional president of Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities in Cape Girardeau, with the Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award. As a Grassroots Champion, Ammons was honored for his exceptional leadership in advocating for and supporting hospitals' and health systems' missions through grassroots activities.

The Grassroots Champion Award recognizes one hospital or health system leader from each state. The award celebrates leaders who effectively educate elected officials on major issues affecting hospitals' vital role in the community, who have broadened the base of community support and stand as an advocate for hospitals and patients.

Read more on the Missouri Hospital Association's website.

"To say I am humbled and honored is a huge understatement, and truth be told, this award really belongs to a vast number of Mercy leaders, caregivers and board members across our communities throughout southeast Missouri who made this happen," said Ammons. "Working with lawmakers has been an important part of my role with Mercy as it helps them make more informed decisions about health care. I always advocate they visit the hospitals, see the people who care for patients and how their choices at the state and federal level can impact patients' and health care workers' day-to-day lives."

Ammons leads Mercy hospitals from Jefferson County down into southeast Missouri including Mercy Jefferson in Crystal City, Mercy Perry in Perryville, Mercy Stoddard in Dexter and Mercy Southeast in Cape Girardeau, where he also serves as hospital president. He was instrumental in these hospitals' decisions to join Mercy to help bring high-quality care close to home for rural patients.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.