National Hospital Week — which aims to recognize and celebrate hospitals, health systems and healthcare workers — begins May 10 and runs through May 16.
Four things to know:
1. The origins of National Hospital Week date to 1921, when National Hospital Day was established to rebuild public trust in hospitals following the 1918 influenza pandemic, according to Tampa, Fla.-based Moffitt Cancer Center. The American Hospital Association expanded the observance to a weeklong celebration in 1953.
2. National Hospital Week overlaps with National Nurses Week, which runs May 6-12 this year. National Nurses Week is centered around May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing.
3. The 2026 National Hospital Week theme is “Healing Happens Here,” according to the AHA, and the campaign hashtag is #WeAreHealthCare.
4. The AHA has shared planning resources, social media content and merchandise to help hospitals and health systems mark the observance.
