NYF Health Awards Reveals 2026 Health & Wellness and Pharma Executive Juries

The New York Festivals NYF Health Awards, honouring the world's most innovative healthcare, wellness, and pharmaceutical communications, has revealed the distinguished creative leaders selected to serve on its 2026 Health & Wellness and Pharma Executive Juries.

Bringing together two of the industry’s most respected and highly awarded creative leaders, the 2026 Health & Wellness Executive Jury will be chaired by Rich Levy, chief creative officer, Klick Health, while the Pharma Executive Jury will be led by Jason Graff, global chief creative officer, VML Health. Together, these accomplished juries will evaluate the year’s most impactful work, recognising the creative excellence redefining healthcare communications around the globe.

Following review and selection by the online, international, NYF Health Shortlist Jury, shortlisted entries will undergo specialised evaluation by the 2026 Executive Juries, which will honour the year’s most innovative work within their respective disciplines through a rigorous, thoughtful, and collaborative judging process.

"Reflecting this year's theme, Rewarding Those Who See Health Differently, we intentionally assembled Executive Juries that represent the diverse disciplines shaping modern healthcare communications,” said Jennifer Vizina, executive director, NYF Health Awards. “By bringing together leaders from creative, strategy, production, patient advocacy, and non-profit organisations, we're recognizing work that pairs creative excellence with meaningful impact."

2026 Health & Wellness Executive Jury

Rich Levy, chief creative officer at Klick Health – 2026 Executive Jury Chair 

• Barb Graetzer, creative director, Grey Health NY
• Lisa Ireland, executive vice president, external relations, Cancer Support Community
• Jonathan Isaacs, co-founder, chief creative officer, Antidote
• Joy Kelly, executive creative director, Fifth Element
• David Leonardi, chief creative officer, Jacques
• Alexis Penty, EVP, managing director, strategic planning, EVERSANA INTOUCH
• Michael Schreiber, chief creative officer, Remedy Edge / Wildtype
• Wid Souza, deputy chief creative officer, Digitas Health
• Eduardo Tavares, global executive creative director, Edelman

2026 Pharma Executive Jury

Jason Graff, global chief creative officer, VML Health – 2026 Executive Jury Chair

• Christian Bauman, chief creative officer, Imre
• Beth Elkis, executive creative director, Life Sciences, Accenture Song Life, USA
• Eric Kraus, group creative director, McKinney Health
• Emily "KK" Knight-Kristoffersen, chief creative officer, The Considered
• Anna Kotis, chief of advertising, Calcium+Company
• Loren Levinson, EVP, executive strategy director, Moon Rabbit
• Chinkara Singh, chief production officer, Havas Health Network
• Rui Yang, PhD, MBA, director, customer engagement – RTL, Novartis
• Donna Wrotny Smith, chief creative officer, Propeller

The 2026 Executive Jury, together with the soon-to-be-announced NYF Health Shortlist Jury, brings extensive industry expertise and a global perspective to the judging process, ensuring every entry receives a fair, thoughtful, and rigorous evaluation.

The 2026 Health & Wellness and Pharma Executive Juries will convene in New York City this November to evaluate entries from around the world, recognising work that embodies the New York Festivals Health Awards' mission of Rewarding Those Who See Health Differently.

The official Early Bird deadline for the 2026 NYF Health Awards is August 19th. For competition rules, categories, and entry information, visit HERE.