LEXINGTON, KY – Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) President and CEO Hollie Harris is among 50 women healthcare leaders from across the country to be named to Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare for 2026, a national recognition honoring women who are shaping the future of healthcare through leadership, innovation, and service.

Women We Admire recognized this year’s honorees for their impact across a vast and complex healthcare landscape, highlighting women who have advanced into leadership roles that influence care delivery, policy, and health system performance. The 2026 list celebrates leaders whose work strengthens communities and improves access to quality care. This year’s honorees represent a broad range of healthcare sectors, including health technology, clinical innovation, growth strategy, and patient-centered care delivery.

Harris who has held leadership roles at Appalachian Regional Healthcare since 2002, has served as President and CEO of the not-for-profit, multi-hospital ARH system since 2021 and has played a pivotal role in advancing strategic growth, strengthening government and community partnerships, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare across rural Appalachia. Under Harris’ leadership, ARH has solidified its position as a leading and trusted healthcare provider and community partner throughout southeastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia.

“Being recognized among such an accomplished group of women leaders is an incredible honor,” said Harris. “I share this recognition with the dedicated ARH team who work every day to improve the health of our communities. It is through their commitment and collaborative spirit that we have been able to achieve such significant milestones. Each member of our team, from frontline healthcare workers to support staff, plays a crucial role in delivering quality care and driving our mission forward. I am proud to serve alongside people who are committed to making a difference in the lives of our patients and communities we serve every day.”

In an extension of her role at ARH, Harris is actively engaged in statewide and national leadership, serving on the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Kentucky Hospital Association Board of Trustees, the Kentucky Health Collaborative, the Women’s Business Collaborative, God’s Pantry Board of Directors, and the Kentucky Medicaid Advisory Board.

As part of her efforts to improve the health and well-being in the communities ARH serves, Harris also serves as co-chair of the Kentucky Food is Medicine initiative, working alongside Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell to advance statewide efforts connecting agriculture, nutrition, and health care. She is also a frequent speaker at Food is Medicine–focused events across the country, sharing lessons learned from Appalachia and contributing to national conversations on nutrition security and health innovation. Her story and the efforts of ARH in Food is Medicine space were recently featured in a paper published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

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