On Friday, November 6, Packard Health board members and leadership staff gathered to celebrate Executive Director Dr. Ray Rion, who was honored with the 2026 Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) Distinguished Service Award. Phillip Bergquist, CEO of MPCA, traveled from Lansing to present the award in recognition of Dr. Rion’s extraordinary contributions to community health and his decades of service to Packard Health and the broader Michigan health center community.
The MPCA Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the success and impact of a health center or Michigan’s health center community.
More Than Two Decades of Mission-Driven Leadership
For more than 23 years, Dr. Rion has been a driving force behind Packard Health’s mission to ensure that everyone in our community has access to compassionate, high-quality care, especially those facing the greatest barriers to health services. Throughout his tenure, he has helped guide the organization’s growth while remaining steadfastly focused on the people and communities Packard serves.
His leadership has been defined not only by longevity, but by a deep commitment to community health, relationship-building, innovation, and service. Through changing healthcare environments, organizational challenges, and evolving community needs, he has remained focused on advancing Packard Health’s mission and strengthening the organization’s role in the community.
Building Partnerships That Strengthen Community Health
One of Dr. Rion’s greatest strengths has been his ability to cultivate meaningful partnerships across the community. These relationships have strengthened Packard Health and created new opportunities to serve patients beyond the walls of a traditional medical practice.
Recent examples include collaboration with the Washtenaw County Jail to support transitional care for individuals returning to the community, helping ensure continuity of care during a vulnerable transition. His support of Packard Health’s Healing Brothers United has also created an innovative ambassador model that helps Black men and boys connect with mental health services through trusted community relationships.
These efforts reflect Dr. Rion’s ongoing commitment to finding new ways to reach populations whose needs too often go unmet and to addressing barriers that prevent people from accessing care.
A Leader Who Remains Connected to Patient Care
Remarkably, while serving as Executive Director, Dr. Rion has remained a practicing physician and a trusted provider for many Packard Health patients. This unique perspective has helped him stay closely connected to the realities of patient care and informed his leadership decisions with firsthand understanding of both patient and staff experiences.
His ability to balance organizational leadership with direct patient care has provided a rare and valuable perspective, ensuring that decisions remain grounded in the experiences of the people Packard Health serves every day.
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Colleagues know Dr. Rion not only for his vision and dedication, but also for his sense of humor, generosity, and genuine compassion. Through more than two decades of service, he has helped shape Packard Health into the organization it is today while remaining deeply committed to the people, staff, and community at the heart of its mission.
Packard Health is proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for Dr. Rion’s enduring leadership, service, and advocacy. Please join us in congratulating him on receiving the 2026 MPCA Distinguished Service Award.