Irvine’s top doctors, researchers and other health care professionals were recently honored at the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare awards program.

Dr. Patty Huang, Hoag’s highly regarded former chief of staff, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her achievements and contributions to the community.

As the first female chief of staff for Hoag, which includes Hoag Hospital Irvine and Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, Huang has been passionate about improving patient care and safety. She has led many clinical programs and initiatives, including reducing hospital readmissions, improving pneumonia care, and creating a collaborative between Hoag and its local skilled nursing facilities and home health care agencies.

Huang, an internal medicine physician, was among 13 medical professionals and organizations recognized at the event, held at the Irvine Marriott.

Among the other awardees was Dr. John-Charles Loo, a pediatric cardiologist with Kaiser Permanente, honored as Healthcare Practitioner of the Year.

UCI Health earned the distinction of Health System of the Year, and Irvine’s newest hospital, City of Hope Orange County, was recognized as the Medical Research Facility of the Year.