Ben Dillon | 2024 SHSMD Leadership Excellence Award Recipient

SHSMD is pleased to announce that Ben Dillon, CEO of Geonetric, has been named the recipient of our 2024 Leadership Excellence Award. Ben, a true exemplar of the strategy professions, will be presented with this award honoring strategic leaders in the health care field during the SHSMD Connections 2024.

Ben is a sought-after speaker and writer, serving as an influential voice in the field of digital health care marketing. Ben is a "big picture guy," who loves sharing new ideas in digital marketing, keeping a watchful eye on health care industry trends, and helping organizations across the country embrace online strategies to engage health consumers.

He currently serves as the CEO of Geonetric, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based digital experience agency that works with hospitals and health systems to provide digital marketing strategies, website development services, and software solutions that help them build patient relationships and stay on the cutting edge of technology. Ben joined Geonetric in 2000, just one year after its founding, and served as the Chief Strategy Office until he became CEO in 2023.

In addition to his work with Geonetric, Ben was also a member of the SHSMD Board of Directors from 2011 to 2019 and served as president in 2018. He has also been a part of SHSMD's Digital Engagement Task Force, Nominating Committee, Editorial Advisory Board, Annual Conference Planning Committee, Social Media Trends Task Force, and Bridging Worlds Core Team.

Ben is also a 2022 Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame inductee and an eHealthcare Strategy & Trends editorial advisory board member.

Outside of the health care space, Ben is also a co-founder, board member, and mentor for the Iowa Startup Accelerator — now known as NewBo.Co — a non-profit expanding the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Iowa.

Help us celebrate Ben on Monday, October 14, during the SHSMD Connections 2024 conference in Denver, CO! Join us.

In the Words of Ben’s Nominators

"Ben Dillon has been on the forefront of digital in health care since it became such a going concern in the last several decades. But what’s more, he’s been an informative and friendly source of trend watching and information in an increasingly hostile and confusing landscape."

"Ben is an extremely inclusive and welcoming person. He encourages participation and inclusion. Throughout his term as SHSMD president, Ben fostered a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere within the board."

"Ben’s commitment to our profession and the Society are exemplary and his impact has been, and continues to be, significant."

"Ben has been proactive at helping strategists adjust to a complex, and rapidly changing environment."