The Virginia Department of Health honored Tony Lawson, executive director of the Program for the All- Inclusive Care of the Elderly, with a Commissioner’s Healthcare Workforce Recognition Award for his innovative work in various health care organizations in Virginia.  

Lawson previously served as the director of the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. 

Lawson received three nominations citing his leadership in organizations such as GMEC at UVa-Wise. GMEC creates and supports medical residency preceptor sites in rural and underserved communities in Southwest Virginia.

As a result of Lawson’s efforts at GMEC, nearly a quarter of its graduating residents chose to practice in Southwest Virginia. Also, under Lawson’s leadership, Stone Mountain Health Services grew from two to 11 clinics that provide medical and dental care annually to 18,000 patients who live in medically underserved areas. 

Lawson’s award is one of five awards honoring the most innovative and successful efforts Virginia health care organizations and individuals use to recruit and retain health care workers. This is the inaugural year for the awards, which were presented Sept. 5 at the annual meeting of VDH’s Health Workforce Advisory Committee meeting in Richmond.