PRESS RELEASE: 2025’s worst behavior in healthcare called out in think tank top ten list

By Aaron Toleos | December 11, 2025

BOSTON—The Lown Institute, an independent healthcare think tank, has released its 2025 Shkreli Awards, an annual accounting of the worst perpetrators of profiteering and dysfunction in healthcare. Now in its ninth year, the Shkreli Awards call attention to behaviors that undermine public trust, exploit patients, and erode the moral foundations of healthcare.

“Each year we find more evidence of a system that places financial gain above human well-being and is overdue for an overhaul,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “The Shkreli Awards remind us of the work ahead for those willing to rethink what’s possible and lead with moral purpose.”

2025 Lown Institute Shkreli Award Winners

Kennedy’s clumsy crusade against acetaminophen
Private equity play on clinical trials may be putting patients at risk
FDA approves lab-grown arteries despite evidence of life-threatening leaks
Billion dollar band-aids are a bonanza for Medicare billers
Lack of oversight allows alleged physician-predator to commit years of abuse
Hospital denies family life-support decisions amid Georgia personhood politics
Hospital’s loyalty to lucrative surgeon leaves women with lifelong trauma
UnitedHealth’s nursing home scheme allegedly leaves seniors stranded
Hyperbaric hustle leads to horrific mishap and murder charges
Premature procurement practices put organ donors in peril

The “winners” are chosen with the help of a judges’ panel made up of health policy experts, clinicians, journalists, and advocates. The awards are named for the infamous “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli, known for obtaining the manufacturing rights of the antiparasitic drug Daraprim and marking up its price by over 5,000 percent.

A complete list of winners with descriptions, sources, and judges’ comments is available at the Lown Institute website.

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About the Lown Institute

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. We envision a healthcare system focused on what’s best for people, like hospitals caring for those most in need, patients living without fear of financial distress, and health professionals finding joy in their roles. The Lown Hospitals Index, a signature project of the Institute, is the first ranking to assess the social responsibility of U.S. hospitals by applying measures never used before like community investment, medical overuse, and CEO pay.

Contact

Aaron Toleos, Lown Institute, (978) 821-4620, atoleos@lowninstitute.org

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