CHICAGO — The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, celebrates the extraordinary achievements by members to improve the healthcare physical environment with its annual member awards. Awardees will be recognized during the 2026 Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference® taking place August 2-5 in Minneapolis.
The Crystal Eagle Leadership Award, considered ASHE’s lifetime achievement award, is presented to James (Jim) Peterkin, PE, LEED AP, FASHE, principal, operations manager and senior fire protection engineer for TLC Engineering Solutions in Thornton, Pa.
Peterkin boasts more than three decades in the healthcare facilities field and has been an ASHE member since 2006. In that time, he has contributed extensively to key ASHE initiatives, such as developing cornerstone ASHE education programs, serving as ASHE faculty, chairing the ASHE Regulatory Affairs Committee and representing ASHE in key regulatory efforts. He is also an influential figure on technical committees for several National Fire Protection Association codes — including NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, and NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® — where he has diligently represented ASHE members and the healthcare facilities field on key issues that affect their work. Notably, he is recognized as a central figure in discussions that led to the adoption of NFPA 99’s risk-based approach with the 2012 edition, a significant development that has aligned compliance with the realities of healthcare facilities operations.
“Jim Peterkin’s dedication to the healthcare facilities field is felt all across so many facets of ASHE,” says Chad Beebe, AIA, CHFM, CFPS, CBO, FASHE, ASHE’s deputy executive director. “His deep knowledge of the healthcare codes is equally matched by his discipline, patience and integrity, which he displays in all his contributions to ASHE, from teaching to facilitating code discussions. Jim singularly embodies the definition of a servant leader, and ASHE is honored to present him with this award.”
