Sepsis Alliance Honors Shelby Hoffman with the 2026 Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award

Remote telemetry technician recognized for advancing sepsis awareness through advocacy, fundraising, and patient safety.

Sepsis Alliance, the nation’s leading sepsis organization, is proud to announce Shelby Hoffman, CRAT, LNA, as the recipient of the 2026 Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award. The award recognizes individuals whose passion, dedication, and advocacy embody the spirit of Erin Kay Flatley by raising awareness of sepsis and working to improve outcomes for patients and families.

Hoffman, a remote telemetry night shift team lead and a member of the Sepsis Alliance Institute community, has transformed personal tragedy into meaningful advocacy.

Since losing her father to septic shock in 2018 following a perforated bowel, she has dedicated herself to educating others about the signs and dangers of sepsis while championing patient safety.

“When my dad died, I had already worked in hospital cardiac step-down units for years, yet I didn’t really know what sepsis was,” Hoffman said. “If I, working firsthand in the hospital, didn’t know about it, what does that mean for everyone else?” That question became the driving force behind her advocacy.

Each Sepsis Awareness Month, Hoffman hosts an annual charity livestream on Twitch, using her passion for gaming to educate viewers about sepsis while raising funds for Sepsis Alliance. What began as a way to honor her father’s memory has grown into a dedicated community effort, raising more than $10,000 to support sepsis education and awareness. “When I learned I would be receiving this award, I shouted up to my dad that we did it and cried,” Hoffman said. “I’m doing this in his memory. I’ll always fight to raise awareness for him.”

In addition to her online advocacy, Hoffman makes an impact every day in her role as a Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician. Monitoring patients’ cardiac rhythms for hours at a time has allowed her to identify subtle changes that may indicate sepsis. On multiple occasions, she has recommended additional evaluation after noticing patients gradually becoming tachycardic, prompting elevated lactate testing and the initiation of sepsis treatment bundles.

Although speaking publicly about her father’s death was once incredibly difficult, Hoffman says sharing her story has become an important part of her healing journey.

“The biggest challenge I’ve overcome is my trauma,” she said. “Learning to talk about what happened and educating others while maintaining a steady voice has been very difficult. I finally feel as if my self-healing journey paid off, allowing me to actively raise awareness in memory of my dad.”

Receiving the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award serves as both a personal milestone and a reminder that every advocate can make a difference.

“As someone who is not an RN, a physician, or a survivor myself, a lot of times it feels like what I’m doing is overlooked,” Hoffman said. “This award should give every person who feels like they’re doing this alone a confidence boost that we aren’t nobodies.”

To view past recipients of the Erin Kay Flatley Spirit Award, click here.