Community Bulletin
Foot and ankle pain no longer means a long drive. Vandalia Health Foot & Ankle now treats patients in four central West Virginia towns — Buckhannon, Cowen, Elkins and Philippi — part of the network long known as Davis Health System. Read more →
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Fairmont State University Professor of Healthcare Management, Dr. Raymond Alvarez, has been named to the West Virginia Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board. Alvarez received his appointment from Governor Jim Justice earlier this fall, which will extend through June 30, 2024.
The mission of the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board is to protect the public good by developing and enforcing regulations to govern the practice of nursing home administration within more than 120 skilled-care facilities throughout the state. The Board meets four times per year to complete key functions including determining administrator candidate eligibility for licensure, establishing policies for long-term care administration, imposing and enforcing standards and investigating complaints and carrying out disciplinary matters.
Alvarez served in leadership roles in healthcare settings throughout the country for more than 40 years ranging from rural to urban hospitals, outpatient specialty centers, home based services, post-acute care, among others.
In 2019, Alvarez transitioned into a role as an educator at Fairmont State and has led both the Bachelor of Science and Master of Healthcare Management programs at the University. Both program curricula were designed to equip health professionals with the skills and knowledge to become the next generation of administrators in healthcare agencies.
“I am honored to receive an appointment from the Governor to the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board,” Alvarez said. “My longstanding career and experience in healthcare settings have allowed me to develop an understanding of the nature of this highly regulated business, and what we can do to support this growing industry.”
Prior to his appointment, Alvarez began establishing a collaborative relationship with the Board in 2019 while working to enhance the Master of Healthcare Management curriculum by implementing a first-of-its-kind, expedited administrator in training experiential learning component to the program.
“The appointment of Dr. Alvarez to the West Virginia Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board speaks volumes,” said Fairmont State University President, Mirta M. Martin. “First, it’s a reflection of Raymond’s extraordinary, broad experience in the field of healthcare management. Raymond cares deeply about the future of that field, and has the passion and vision to help shape the nursing home industry. Finally, his appointment is another symbol of the high level of caring teacher-mentors you’ll find at Fairmont State. We’re so proud of Dr. Alvarez, and we know the great impact he’ll have in this vital role.”
