FAQs

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Can a nominator submit more than one person?
Yes.  There is no limit to the number of submissions a person can submit, for all categories.

When can I nominate?
2025 nominations are closed

Can anyone submit a nomination?
Correct, you do not need to be a clinician to nominate. Anyone at UHG can submit a nomination.

Where is the eligibility criteria for all award categories?
Visit the site here.

Can I nominate myself for a Sages of Clinical Services award?
​​​​​​​Yes. You can nominate any UHG employee, including yourself.

Can you win Sages more than one time?
Due to the limited number of winners each year, this award is bestowed only once. Sages' winners are acknowledged and celebrated in the year they are selected as a winner.

Are physicians eligible for a Sages award?
Physicians employed by UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare and Optum are eligible, up to and including M3 for a collaboration and QPS awards and up to and including M2 for an individual award.

Is there a minimum or maximum salary grade required to be nominated for a Sages award?
Yes. All salary grades can be nominated for a Sages award with the following exceptions:

  • Individual award - eligibility includes those in salary grades up to and including 31 and M2
  • Collaboration and QPS awards - eligibility includes those in salary grade up to and including 32 and M3

Who can help me with my nomination?
Anyone. Work with a colleague(s), your manager and or the manager of the nominee.

Should the clinician know he/she is being nominated for a Sages award?
Although some nominators prefer the nomination to be a surprise, the best nominations include examples of how the nominee lives our values in their personal life as well as their professional life. This is up to the nominator.

Do clinicians need to work in clinical roles?
No, as long as they are licensed, they can work in any role within the company.

How do I get the best information to describe how the nominee lives our values?
The nominee's coworkers, customers, volunteer partners, family and community can provide some compelling examples. Another great best practice, for example, is to review the Bravos that were submitted for the nominee.

Can the collaboration or QPS award include more than two people?
No. It is common for teams to work together to achieve significant innovations and/or improvements in care and service.  This award recognizes the two who were most influential and impactful in the team achieving its results.  Other team members should be acknowledged and celebrated during the local celebrations for all nominees and winners.

What is the Manager review after the nomination period?

Once the nomination period closes, we will request input from the managers of each nominee, per submission. To align with other nomination programs across UHG, Sages will include a manager review step in the process. All managers will be notified if they have reviews to complete.