UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, was presented with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Health Equity 2024 Health Equity Champion Award. The award was presented during the closing session of the 2024 Pennsylvania Health Equity Summit, held April 4-5 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The Health Equity Champion Award is presented biennially to individuals based on their years dedicated to health equity efforts, professional roles and a demonstrated passion and success in promoting health equity.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Health was pleased to present Lisa Davis with the Health Equity Champion Award for 2024,” said David Saunders, director of the Office of Health Equity. “This biennial award is given to community leaders who exemplify passion, persistence and creativity in the pursuit of the health of citizens of the Commonwealth. Lisa Davis has fought for rural residents with unwavering tenacity, while ensuring that all vulnerable residents can live their healthiest lives.”

Davis began her career at the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) in 1994 as the office’s first full-time staff person and stepped into the role of director in 1999. One of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation, PORH strives to be one of the most effective state offices, and to lead statewide and national initiatives to increase access to health care services in rural areas through technical assistance, partnership development, policy and education.

Davis sits on a wide range of boards and task forces to advance rural health and has been a member of the Office of Health Equity’s Advisory Committee since its inception in 2007. She holds a master of health administration degree from the Penn State Department of Health Policy and Administration.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. Being a champion for rural health is my passion. The progress that has been made in rural health is the result of talented people collaborating and sharing a vision. I am indebted to the staff at PORH and to my colleagues across the state and nation who serve as an inspiration to me," said Davis. “There is still much to accomplish!”

The Office of Health Equity was formally integrated into the Pennsylvania Department of Health through an executive order signed in May 2007. The office provides leadership and programs to increase public awareness of health disparities.

The Office of Health Equity works with policy makers, insurers, health care providers and communities to implement policies and programs that result in measurable and sustained improvement in the health status of underserved and disparate populations. It also collaborates with state agencies, academic institutions, community-based organizations, health partners, providers and others in the public and private sectors to eliminate health disparities in Pennsylvania.

PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking and partnership development.

PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.

For additional information, please contact Lisa Davis at 814-863-8214 or lad3@psu.edu.