Trailblazer Award
2026 Trailblazer: JoAnne Levy
JoAnne has served in the healthcare industry for 30+ years and currently leads Mercy Research, a not-for-profit organization managing clinical and real-world data research activities across Mercy, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country. In Summer 2026, Mercy Research will celebrate its tenth anniversary. During that past decade, under JoAnne’s leadership, Mercy Research was a 2023 MAGI Innovation Challenge finalist, received a 2019 Cutting Edge Award from the St. Louis Business Journal for its innovative approach in research and was an eyeforpharma 2019 Entrepreneur Award: Health Solutions finalist.
At Mercy, JoAnne co-chairs Mercy’s annual, system-wide Robert W. Taylor, MD Research Colloquium and serves on the Executive Board for Cancer Research of the Ozarks, a National Cancer Institute oncology research leader. She serves as immediate Past Chair and an inaugural founder of Mercy Women in Leadership and a Mercy Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Cabinet member. JoAnne is also a founding member of Clinical Research in Healthcare Systems, a new organization of research leaders, and serves on Advarra’s national Customer Advisory Board.
JoAnne’s 15+ year tenure at Mercy began at Mercy’s supply chain organization known as ROi, where she helped lead the successful commercialization of its Group Purchasing Organization followed by operational leadership of warehouse/distribution, transportation and in-hospital materials management functions. Prior to Mercy, JoAnne held senior leadership and legal roles at Mallinckrodt/Covidien and was in private legal practice in St. Louis.
JoAnne received her undergraduate degree, Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration (with an emphasis in healthcare management) — all with honors — from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a 2019 YWCA Metro St. Louis Leader of Distinction (in Healthcare Management), a 2017 Healthcare Accomplishment Recognition Award recipient from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association – St. Louis Chapter and one of the 2016 St. Louis Business Journal’s Top 25 Most Influential Businesswomen. JoAnne sits on various Boards of Directors, including several Executive Committees; enjoys her five children, their partners and three grandchildren; and is an active community volunteer.
Join us to celebrate JoAnne on Friday, May 8th at The Trolley Room inside the Forest Park Visitor's Center. Click here to view the registration page.
The Trailblazer Award was created in 1994 to recognize a woman who is/was an influential community leader, is/was “the first” in her field, or made/is making a significant contribution toward elevating the image of women in business.
This is a wonderful opportunity to honor outstanding women who not only represent great accomplishments in their fields but further the reputation of St. Louis Forum as a remarkable organization.
Pictured left to right: Dawn Gipson (St. Louis Forum President) and Kristen Sorth (2025 Trailblazer).
Past Recipients of the Trailblazer Award
| 1994 | Carolyn Losos | 2011 | The Founding Members |
| 1994 | Ruth Krause Jacobson | 2012 | Brenda Newberry |
| 1994 | Patricia Rich | 2013 | Margaret Donnelly |
| 1994 | Martha Rounds | 2013 | Paula Gianino |
| 1994 | Janet McAfee Weakley | 2013 | Gayle Jackson |
| 1995 | Susan Uchitelle | 2014 | Lesley Hoffarth |
| 1996 | Blanche Touhill | 2015 | Linda Goldstein |
| 1997 | Sue Clancy | 2016 | Patricia Rice Hellmuth |
| 1998 | Theresa Loveless | 2017 | Susan E. Block |
| 1999 | Jean C. Hamilton | 2018 | Lyda Krewson |
| 2000 | Dora B. Schriro, Ed.D | 2019 | Marie Casey |
| 2002 | Jo Ann Arnold (Harmon) | 2019 | Betsy Cohen |
| 2003 | Ellen Sherberg | 2019 | Martha Uhlhorn |
| 2004 | Marylen Mann | 2020 | Anna Crosslin |
| 2005 | Juliann Niemann | 2021 | Nicole Adewale |
| 2006 | Vivian Eveloff | 2022 | Frances Levine, PhD |
| 2006 | Marcia Mellitz | 2023 | Mary Alice Ryan |
| 2006 | Betty Van Uum | 2024 | Maxine Clark |
| 2007 | Judy Meador | 2024 | Laurna Godwin |
| 2008 | Karen Levin Coburn | 2024 | Toni Kutchan, PhD |
| 2009 | Pat Whitaker | 2025 | Kristen Sorth |
| 2010 | Joan Briccetti |
* Our Founding Members are Schuyler Gott Andrews, Joan Briccetti, Sue Clancy, Vivian Eveloff, Dee Joyner, Rosalyn Lowerhaupt, Judy Meador, Joan Newman, Pat Rich, and Ellen Sherberg.