The Eloise Q. Hatmaker Award recognizes an individual who has contributed outstanding service to the Rural Health Association of Tennessee and rural health over a period of years. Eloise Q. Hatmaker was instrumental in the establishment of the State Office of Rural Health. As its first director, Ms. Hatmaker worked toward alleviating health workforce shortages in rural areas and also helped establish the Rural Health Association of Tennessee.

Mary Vance is the Executive Director of the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic and was instrumental in its development. Although the clinic is not located in a rural area of Sevier County, patients come from the rural corners of the county as well as other adjacent rural counties.  Ms. Vance is known for always having had a deep passion for all issues concerning rural health and access to care for patients. In addition to her position at Mountain Hope, Mary has held the chair position on the Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s Legislative and Policy Committee and is currently the Chair of the East Tennessee Regional Health Council which represents 15 counties in East Tennessee. She has and continues to guide policy positions which support rural healthcare for the state of Tennessee and has been instrumental in the formation of the Tennessee Charitable Care Network (TCCN).  Mary Vance is committed to the vision of a strong, compassionate health care safety net for all Tennesseans in need. A founding board member, she currently serves on the TCCN Board of Directors and as the Chair of the TCCN Public Policy Committee. In this role, she is a tireless advocate for the uninsured and underserved all across Tennessee.