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Phillips Medal Recipient

2015 Recipient

Marcia K. Brand, Ph.D., 2015

In recognition of your tireless work to bring better health care to regions that need it most, including your native Appalachia, and for your consistent support of osteopathic medicine’s role in that mission, we are proud to award you the Phillips Medal of Public Service.

As a dental hygienist who chose to make a positive impact on health care policy, you began your career in public service as an aide to U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, from your home state of West Virginia, before accepting a position with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

In your 20-year career with that vital health care agency, you rose through the ranks to become deputy administrator in 2009, a position you held until February 2015. Throughout your tenure, you brought inspirational leadership, superb organizational skills and common sense to the task of leveraging HRSA’s resources to improve health care – including the often-neglected area of oral health – in America’s underserved rural communities.

Along the way, you earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for children’s health through your work on projects including a presidential task force aimed at increasing enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

You also have been a friend to the osteopathic medical community and the Heritage College, using your leadership and networking talents in support of a project to improve health outcomes in central Appalachia through a consortium of regional osteopathic medical schools.

You continue to work for the improvement of health care for America’s underserved in your new role directing the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health.

We at the 51ÉçÇø Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine thank you, and honor you, for your steadfast commitment to our profession, our region and the health of our people.