On June 20, Augusta Health and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association hosted a special dedication ceremony and reception to honor Senator Emmett Hanger’s retirement. The event was held to express gratitude for his years of service to the community. During the ceremony, a commemorative bench in Senator Hanger’s honor was unveiled, which will be installed outside the entrance of Augusta Health as a symbol of enduring appreciation.
Senator Hanger, a native of Staunton, served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1983 to 1992 and later in the Virginia Senate from 1996 to 2024. He played a significant role in pushing through Medicaid expansion on May 30, 2018, providing healthcare coverage to over 400,000 Virginians. For his efforts, Senator Hanger was honored with several awards including the “Health Care Advocacy Award” from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the “Hero in Health Care Extraordinaire” award from the Virginia Health Care Foundation alongside Governor Ralph Northam.
Mary N. Mannix, President and CEO of Augusta Health commended Senator Hanger for his leadership and dedication towards providing access to healthcare to additional Virginians through Medicaid expansion. She highlighted Senator Hanger’s tireless efforts towards this cause while acknowledging his energy, commitment and ability to listen which had made a significant impact on the healthcare landscape in the Valley. As a community member himself, Senator Hanger embodied a commitment to communities served by Augusta Health.
Augusta Health is one of few remaining independent community hospitals in Virginia that is governed by a board composed of community members who advocate for their needs. The presence of Senator Hanger at the ceremony along with representatives from various areas including state and local government officials demonstrated his contributions towards fostering collaboration and building communities within this region.
