Rockbridge Area Health Center’s director of dental services, Dr. Stuart “Stu” Fargiano, was named a 2026 Health Care Champion by the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) at a recent ceremony in Richmond.
The prestigious statewide award recognizes health care leaders whose sustained commitment, innovation, and advocacy have improved access to care and strengthened the health of communities throughout Virginia. Fargiano was honored for his longstanding dedication to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of income or circumstance, have access to high-quality oral health care.
For more than three decades, the Foundation has worked to increase access to primary care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians, supporting free clinics, community health centers, and a variety of other nonprofit organizations to expand both the types of care offered and the number of patients served each year.
Although he had already spent more than 26 years practicing dentistry in private practice, Dr. Fargiano joined Rockbridge Area Health Center because he saw an opportunity to expand access to oral health care.
Under Fargiano’s leadership, RAHC’s dental program has grown into a vital resource for the region, said a RAHC spokesperson. Through two dental clinics and a mobile dental unit, the program has brought care directly to schools, rural communities, and patients who face barriers to accessing traditional dental services. By meeting people where they are, the program has helped connect thousands of individuals and families with preventive care, treatment, and ongoing oral health services.
“Stu has been critical to building a model of care that reaches historically underserved populations and creates new pathways to health care access throughout Rockbridge County,” said Suzanne Sheridan, chief executive officer of Rockbridge Area Health Center. “His vision, leadership, and commitment to serving others continue to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our communities.”
The Virginia Health Care Foundation is a nonprofit public/private partnership with a mission to increase access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. The Foundation was initiated by the General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992. Since its inception, it has funded 564 community-based initiatives throughout the commonwealth and established multiple programs and partnerships.
The Rockbridge Area Health Center is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving insured, underinsured, and uninsured patients regardless of ability to pay. Founded in 1992, RAHC promotes and provides access to comprehensive, high-quality, affordable health care to improve the health and well-being of the greater Rockbridge community. Services include primary medical care, dental, behavioral health, schoolbased health centers, and mobile medical and dental units. Learn more at www.rockahc. org.
