Huntsville Hospital Health System has landed another national workplace honor, earning a spot on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best-in-State Employers.
HH Health ranked No. 2 among healthcare and social services employers in Alabama, marking the sixth time the health system has received the Forbes recognition.
The honor comes less than a month after HH Health was named one of Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care.
With more than 22,000 employees across North Alabama and southern Tennessee, HH Health is one of the region’s largest employers and operates hospitals and related facilities throughout the Tennessee Valley.
“Our employees are what make HH Health such a special place to work,” said Jeff Samz, president and CEO of HH Health. “Every day, they bring tremendous skill, compassion and commitment to caring for our patients.”
“We want them to have opportunities to grow, take on new challenges and build careers they are proud of here. When our people are supported and able to succeed, the communities we serve are stronger, too.”
The health system has expanded several workforce development programs aimed at recruiting employees and creating pathways for advancement.
Recent efforts include nursing compensation adjustments and an expanded partnership with Drake State Community & Technical College to launch the RN Launch Program, building on an LPN Launch Program introduced three years ago.
HH Health also offers a nursing clinical ladder, tuition assistance and continuing education, as well as SPARK, which allows employees in support roles to explore other careers through job shadowing.
Paid training programs are available for patient care aides, pharmacy technicians, surgical technologists and perioperative nurses. The health system also operates an accredited School of Radiologic Technology.
For registered nurse Eileen Jenkins, those opportunities have translated into a career spanning more than four decades.
Jenkins first came to Huntsville Hospital as a high school student through its teen volunteer program. She later worked as a nurse tech while attending nursing school and has now spent more than 40 years in the Huntsville Hospital Emergency Department, where she serves as a pod leader and member of the Trauma Team.
“I love being a nurse, and I’ve always had opportunities to get involved, make a difference and do things that are meaningful to me,” Jenkins said. “Now I get to give that back, whether it’s making a patient or family feel special or helping the next generation succeed.”
Forbes develops its Best-in-State Employers rankings with market research firm Statista. More than 245,000 employees working for companies with at least 500 employees were independently surveyed for this year’s rankings, with no more than 100 employers recognized in any state.
HH Health serves more than 1.5 million people across North Alabama and southern Tennessee through its network of community-based nonprofit hospitals.
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