As a graphic designer, certain projects become annual highlights, and for me, one of those is designing HealthBeat for Smith County Memorial Hospital.
In April 2026, the 2025 HealthBeat: Fitness Court Edition received an Emerald Award from the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators (KAHCC) in the Communications Publication category. The Emerald Awards recognize Kansas hospitals, health systems, and healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in communications, marketing, public relations, and community outreach.
This recognition represents a collaborative effort between Smith County Memorial Hospital and our team. Each year, I work closely with Shannon Rogers, Director of Communications at Smith County Memorial Hospital, to bring the publication to life. Shannon develops and gathers much of the magazine’s content, including articles, photography, hospital updates, wellness information, and community stories. My role is to transform that content into a visually engaging and easy-to-read publication that connects with readers.
Our partnership on HealthBeat dates back to 2019, and I have personally designed the magazine since 2021. Over the years, the publication has earned multiple Emerald Awards, including recognitions in 2022, 2024, and now 2026.
HealthBeat serves as one of Smith County Memorial Hospital’s primary communication tools, helping the organization connect with residents across north central Kansas. The annual publication is distributed to more than 10,400 households across six counties and typically spans 24 pages of health information, hospital updates, wellness resources, and community stories. The magazine is also available digitally, extending its reach beyond the print audience.
According to Rogers, “HealthBeat is one of Smith County Memorial Hospital’s most important and valued communication tools.” The publication continues to generate positive feedback from readers and plays an important role in keeping the community informed about local healthcare services, programs, and initiatives.
One of the biggest design challenges is finding the balance between consistency and freshness. Readers should immediately recognize HealthBeat from issue to issue, but each edition also needs its own unique personality. With dozens of pages of content, photos, and information to organize, careful planning and visual hierarchy are essential to creating a publication that feels approachable rather than overwhelming.
When I first began designing the magazine, the idea of creating an entire publication felt intimidating. Over time, however, it has become one of my favorite projects each year. I’ve learned that the best approach is to focus on one spread at a time, building the magazine piece by piece until the entire story comes together.
Receiving this award is especially meaningful because it recognizes not only the final design but also the collaboration, strategy, and attention to detail that go into every issue. Most importantly, it highlights the value of clear, effective communication in helping healthcare organizations connect with the communities they serve.
As an agency, projects like HealthBeat demonstrate how thoughtful design can help organizations communicate complex information in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful to their audiences. I am grateful to work alongside Shannon Rogers and the team at Smith County Memorial Hospital on a publication that continues to educate, inform, and engage readers throughout the region.
Readers interested in exploring the award-winning Fitness Court Edition can view the full digital publication on Smith County Memorial Hospital’s website. The hospital also maintains an archive of past HealthBeat editions, providing a look at how the publication has evolved over the years while continuing to inform and engage community members across the region.
The Fitness Court Edition is available at Smith County Memorial Hospital’s HealthBeat page.
