CLAY-BATTELLE HEALTH SERVICES - Key Persons
Dr. Janice Reid Morris, a Virginia native, started her career at Clay-Battelle Health Services Association in July 1979 as a family dentist. Under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer Joe Tuttle, the "Father of Primary Care" in West Virginia, she learned the art and science of grant writing. She assumed the role of Dental Director, then Clinical Director and Chief Operating Officer, and ultimately Chief Executive Officer in 2012, upon the retirement of Joe Tuttle. In 2019, Janice transitioned to the role of Administrative Assistant, where she still serves the organization today.
A firm believer in and advocate for Federally Qualified Health Centers, she stood by their mission to provide quality healthcare regardless of ability to pay. During her tenure, Janice and her team worked to improve rural healthcare by implementing the electronic medical and dental health record systems at Clay-Battelle Health Services Association. The National Committee for Quality Assurance recognized Clay-Battelle Health Services Association as a Patient Centered Medical Home (Level 1 recognition October 18, 2013 and Level 2 recognition by add-on in June 2014, and ultimately, Level 3 recognition November 18, 2016).
She has assisted other health centers in WV by writing grants, sharing policies, and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Mountaineer Community Health Center (FQHC Look-Alike) in 2018 to successfully guide them to federal compliance within 90 days.
Janice's passion has been the implementation of behavioral health services, as well as helping to secure 24/7 ambulance service in Blacksville, West Virginia for quicker response times for rural western-Monongalia County.
Janice was recognized as the 2018 West Virginia Rural Health Association Excellence in Rural Health Individual. Additional accomplishments during her tenure within the community include: National Health Service Corps 10 year recognition award; Clinical Professor, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Practice and Rural Health; volunteering in local schools providing reading assistance; Lion's Club; March of Dimes; Special Olympics; as well as mission trips to a Guatemalan orphanage; and providing dental care and oral hygiene instruction to poverty-stricken areas of Honduras.
Janice's favorite workplace quote is "Hire the very best and stay out of their way." She feels that she acted on that quote, which has led to the success of the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association. Janice's sacrifice, dedication, and kindness has earned her recognition as an Honorary West Virginia Mountaineer among her peers. She recently became a grandmother and enjoys her family and friends, photography, her Golden Retriever, and pickleball in her spare time.
Beginning in 1972, he joined with a group of concerned citizens in the western end of Monongalia County to address the lack of health care services in the area. From their efforts, the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association was created: a private non-profit corporation that provides quality, comprehensive family medical and dental care without regard to an individual's ability to pay. The Association's newly created board of directors tapped him to be its first Executive Director, a position he held from the time the Clay-Battelle Community Health Center opened in 1973 in Blacksville to his retirement in 2012. He was also responsible for the creation of a second community health center site for the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association, the Community Health Center of NE Wetzel County in Burton, as well as the Clay-Battelle Pharmacy (Blacksville) in 2008.
His 40-year career was dedicated to ensuring that West Virginians have access to quality affordable health care, even in the most remote of communities. He helped found numerous community health care facilities around the state, and was sought after as a speaker and consultant.
Widely regarded as the "father of primary care" in West Virginia, he was awarded the Distinguished Mountaineer Award by Gov. Joe Manchin, the Distinguished Service Award by the WV Primary Care Association, and the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement - Governor's Award.
He lived his entire life on the family farm, Fairview Fold, in western Monongalia County, and raised Scottish Highland cattle as a hobby. He took great pride in bringing visitors to the area to see his farm and the gentle long-haired cattle grazing in the fields surrounding his home.
Rebecca "Becky" Thomas is a native West Virginian, having been born and raised in Monongalia County. Upon graduation from Clay-Battelle High School, Becky attended West Virginia University and received her bachelor's degree in dental hygiene in 2002. She began her career as a dental hygienist at the Clay-Battelle Community Health Center. It is interesting to note that Becky's first association with the health center was as a patient when she was 5 years old.
Over time, she assumed more administrative duties and was named Compliance Officer of the Clay-Battelle Health Services Association in 2015. She was also part of the team that traveled to Paw Paw, WV, to assist Mountaineer Community Health Center in achieving eligibility for Federally Qualified Health Center status.