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At a recent ceremony in New York, Cheri Blauwet, MD, Shirley Ryan ÄÛBÑо¿Ôº¡¯s chief clinical officer and senior vice president, received the William J. Hybl Paralympic Contributor Award from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Endowment (USOPE).

Dr. Blauwet is the inaugural recipient of this new award, which recognizes extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to the Paralympic movement.

USOPE¡¯s announcement about the award noted Dr. Blauwet as ¡°a global leader in disability health, athlete safety and inclusive sport,¡± and it recognized her research on injury prevention, athlete mental health, and the needs of female and disabled athletes. Dr. Blauwet is also a seven-time Paralympic medalist, representing Team USA in wheelchair racing.

As Dr. Blauwet received the award, she reflected on the remarkable development of the Paralympic movement in the United States.

¡°It¡¯s been an honor to be part of the Paralympic movement and to play a role,¡± said Dr. Blauwet in her acceptance speech. ¡°To me, this work is about expanding the footprint and impact of the movement here in the United States, and the power that we all have ¡ª  collectively ¡ª to elevate Para sport, change communities and transform lives.¡±

Dr. Blauwet joined Shirley Ryan ÄÛBÑо¿Ôº in September 2025. In her role, she provides clinical and strategic leadership across Shirley Ryan ÄÛBÑо¿Ôº¡¯s entire enterprise ¡ª the organization¡¯s downtown Chicago flagship hospital, more than 30 sites of care in Chicagoland, and partnerships with hospitals across the nation and internationally. She ensures world-class quality, safety and performance throughout all aspects of Shirley Ryan ÄÛBÑо¿Ôº¡¯s medical practice. She is also a longstanding champion of accessibility, and she was named to Forbes¡¯ inaugural "Accessibility 100" in 2025.

In addition to Dr. Blauwet, USOPE recognized four other award recipients during the ceremony. Read the to learn more about Dr. Blauwet¡¯s recognition and the other honorees.