Ammons Recognized as American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion
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, Mo., 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’ or health systems’ vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support and who stand as a tireless advocate for hospitals and patients.
In announcing the award, Rick Pollack, AHA president and CEO, said, “your leadership and dedication to advancing the mission of America’s hospitals and health systems has made a difference for the patients and communities we serve. This special recognition acknowledges the hard work you have demonstrated as an advocate for advancing health in America.”
Ammons has served as regional president for Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities since October 2023. He started his health care career as a physical therapist and went on to serve in leadership positions for more than 30 years at Mercy hospitals in Fort Scott and Independence, Kan., and Jefferson County, Mo. Ammons earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mid-America Nazarene University and a graduate degree in physical therapy from the University of Kansas.
“Eric is committed to helping connect hospitals’ work to improve lives and health care locally to the policies that shape the health care system in southeast Missouri, statewide and nationally,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “His engagement with law and policymakers builds their understanding of how their decisions influence care and health.”
Ammons has attended MHA-sponsored advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., and is active in policy discussions at MHA’s district level. He has supported AHA and MHA political action committees that work to educate, elect and reelect leaders who support hospitals’ community-focused missions.
“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.
Eric Ammons, regional president of Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities in Cape Girardeau, Mo., (left) receives the 2025 Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award from Jon D. Doolittle, Missouri Hospital Association president and CEO (right).
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.
Mercy Contact: Kate Shupert
kate.shupert@mercy.net
573-519-4908
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.