Brent VanConia, president of St. Mary’s Health Center, has been awarded the 2011 Grassroots Champion Award by the American Hospital Association.

The award recognizes hospital leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico who serve as highly effective advocates for their hospitals and their patients. VanConia received the award for Missouri.

VanConia was presented the award during a ceremony April 12 at the 2011 AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

VanConia has been president of St. Mary’s since 2007.