Clark Receives National Community Star Award

N. Travis Clark, Valley Health vice president of operations at Page Memorial Hospital (PMH) in Luray, VA, and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (SMH) in Woodstock, VA, has been honored with the prestigious Community Star Award by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH). Clark, nominated by the Virginia State Office of Rural Health, is the sole healthcare executive in Virginia to receive this accolade this year.

The NOSORH Community Star Recognition Program, established in 2015 to coincide with National Rural Health Day (November 21), celebrates individuals and organizations making significant contributions to rural communities. Since its inception, over 300 healthcare leaders and organizations have been honored as Community Stars.

Brandon Rivenbark and Kandi Chamberlain with the Virginia Department of Health State Office of Rural Health present the 2024 Community Star Award.

“We were honored to name Travis as this year's Community Star for Virginia,” notes Brandon Rivenbark, rural health program manager with the Virginia State Office of Rural Health. “In addition to managing the successful operations of two of the state’s Critical Access Hospitals, Travis actively engages with local leaders and organizations to enhance rural health for everyone who calls those communities home.”

A project close to Clark’s heart is the development of community gardens on several Valley Health campuses in Page and Shenandoah counties. Growing up on his family’s farm in Page County, Clark has a personal connection to this initiative. The gardens, aimed at addressing food insecurity, have thrived, producing over 7,000 pounds of produce this year and now serve as social hubs and lifelong learning centers.

In addition to his local initiatives, Clark was appointed to the Rural Health Task Force by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. The task force, established this year, aims to advance rural health across the state. Recently, the task force completed an analysis of the challenges faced by rural healthcare providers and submitted a report with recommendations to address such issues such: expanding behavioral and maternal health services, improving transportation networks and enhancing workforce development efforts.

“I am deeply honored to be a recipient of this award,” offers Clark. “It takes a team to advance rural health on a local, regional, state and national effort,” he continues. “No one knows that better than the dedicated men and women who come to work every day in our hospitals and provide the expert care that our communities deserve. I’m just thankful that I can be one of the voices that advocate for our families, friends and neighbors.”

To read more about Travis's nomination, please visit powerofrural.org and click the state of Virginia!