UConn Health’s Dr. Jennifer Baldwin is a 2024 Connecticut Hospital Association Healthcare Hero.

Baldwin, a hospitalist who serves as director of hospital medicine, is credited with expanding UConn Health’s hospitalist program and creating a successful nocturnist program to accommodate increasing evening patient volumes, as well as other successes.

“In her leadership role, she was highly effective in staffing the hospitalist service during the peak of the COVID crisis and has selflessly and consistently taken on additional clinical responsibilities when needed,” reads her nomination, which also recognizes her effectiveness in educating residents and medical students, and her commitment patient safety, helping develop a culture of safety and high reliability that has earned national accolades for John Dempsey Hospital.

This year, the CHA presented its Healthcare Hero Award to someone from each member hospital, in celebration of the invaluable contributions of exceptional health care workers, both to their field and to the community at large.

“I am honored to be selected for the CHA Healthcare Heroes Award,” Baldwin says. “I am fortunate to work with so many exceptional clinicians at UConn Health who are equally deserving of this award. Getting to work with dedicated, compassionate people who work tirelessly to continuously improve our patients’ experience and outcomes is what makes my work so meaningful and allows UConn Health to deliver the highest-quality care to all patients.”

Baldwin is a 2004 graduate of the UConn School of Medicine.

At the celebration of health care heroes as part of the CHA’s annual meeting Thursday at the Aqua Turf Club in Planstville, honorees received a proclamation from Gov. Lamont’s office, which says in part:

“This recognition celebrates your outstanding leadership. The honor you are receiving signifies your outstanding professional accomplishments in the healthcare services sector… Through your thoughtful work, you have demonstrated professional excellence and extraordinary service to your community, organization, and to the State of Connecticut.”