LeadingAge Honors R3 Program Director Mimi Lewis with National Leadership Award
Lewis has elevated R3’s impact, expanded its reach, and positioned Hebrew SeniorLife as a leader in housing-based health and wellness services
Mimi Lewis, program director of the Right Care, Right Place, Right Time program at Hebrew SeniorLife, has received the LeadingAge Leadership Award. LeadingAge is the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.
Now in its third year, the LeadingAge Leadership Award recognizes a leader at any level within a member organization whose unique leadership attributes have made a significant difference in their organization or local community, strengthening impact, inspiring others, and driving meaningful change. An empathetic and strategic leader, Lewis brings creativity, clarity, and deep commitment to improving the lives of older adults. This is evident through her efforts to build and expand Hebrew SeniorLife’s R3 program, which embeds wellness teams in affordable senior housing to strengthen the connection between housing and health care.
Through Lewis’ collaborative approach, strong relationship building, and focus on sustainable growth and measurable outcomes, she has elevated R3’s impact, expanded its reach, and positioned Hebrew SeniorLife as a leader in housing-based health and wellness services. Read more about her work and contributions.
“Mimi is a leader who turns vision into action,” says Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge. “She leads with heart, credibility, and an unwavering focus on impact — earning trust across teams, partners, and communities while driving real, measurable results. Her thoughtful leadership, commitment to collaboration, and passion for improving the lives of older adults make her not only deserving of this award, but a role model for what strong, mission-driven leadership looks like.”
Effie Hathaway, a director of community life at one of Hebrew SeniorLife’s partner senior housing communities, calls Lewis a “charismatic and passionate leader who naturally inspires those around her.” She continues, “Mimi’s commitment to improving the lives of seniors, and her relentless drive to address the challenges they face in aging with dignity, is both fierce and contagious… As the R3 program grew, Mimi’s leadership became even more pivotal to maintaining the success of the initiative.”
Rebecca Donato, director of business and program development of the R3 program at Hebrew SeniorLife, adds, “Mimi’s leadership style is grounded in humility and service. She seeks no recognition and deflects praise, yet her influence is undeniable. … She brings effervescence, lightness, and an infectious sense of humor to work that can be emotionally demanding. In a field like ours, where burnout is a constant risk, these qualities are essential. She creates an environment where people want to stay and grow. She mentors generously and consistently elevates those around her.”
Lewis was honored during the general session of the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. She joins RiverWoods’ Kim Gaskell and Pamela Garofolo of United Methodist Communities as Leadership Award recipients. Learn more about this and LeadingAge’s other awards and honors here.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national leader working to create a world where aging is defined by possibility, not limitation. We care for more than 4,500 older adults each day across seven campuses throughout Greater Boston, and offer support for families in the aging journey. Our services include in-home care, outpatient therapies, an outpatient memory clinic, short- and long-term inpatient care, hospice, independent and assisted living, and affordable housing with services. We conduct influential research on aging at our Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a grant portfolio of $87 million, and train future health care workers at the Lunder CareForce Institute. Hebrew SeniorLife is a Harvard Medical School affiliate. Follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About LeadingAge
We represent more than 5,300 nonprofit and mission-driven aging services providers serving older adults and touching millions of lives every day. From our national headquarters in Washington, DC, and in collaboration with our state partners representing members active in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, we use advocacy, education, applied research, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership encompasses the entire continuum of aging services, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, affordable housing, retirement communities, adult day programs, hospice, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and home-based care. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information, visit www.leadingage.org.
