Washington, D.C. — Advocates for Community Health (ACH) and Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation (MCHC) proudly announced today that Chris Bates, MPA has been named a 2026 Advocate of the Year for community health centers. Chris received the award on March 11, 2026 during ACH’s 5th Annual Member Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Each year, ACH recognizes leaders from member community health centers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advocacy, leadership, and engagement in advancing the health center mission. The Advocate of the Year award honors individuals who go above and beyond in supporting federal policy priorities, contributing to ACH’s governance and working groups, and inspiring their peers to take action.

Bates, who serves as MCHC’s corporate compliance officer, was selected as one of two joint recipients for 2026 in recognition of his outstanding advocacy both at MCHC and for the federal Community Health Center Program as a whole. In his role at MCHC, he supports an organization that serves more than 50,000 patients each year across multiple counties in three states—patients who rely on the health center for comprehensive, affordable primary care. His advocacy ensures that these rural and underserved communities continue to have access to the resources and federal support necessary to meet growing health care needs.

Over the past year, Bates has provided critical insight and expertise on key policy and operational initiatives, strengthening advocacy efforts on behalf of community health centers nationwide.

Beyond his engagement on Capitol Hill, Bates has been an active and influential member of ACH’s Membership Committee and Financial Sustainability Subcommittee. He works closely with ACH’s policy team, sharing timely updates and highlighting innovative initiatives underway at Mountain Comprehensive, and areas of advocacy needs. His proactive outreach, collaborative approach, and steadfast dedication have made him a trusted partner and respected leader across the membership.

“Chris exemplifies what it means to be an Advocate of the Year,” said ACH Chief Executive Officer Amanda Pears Kelly. “His commitment to advancing health center priorities, his passion, and his reliability while supporting fellow members has strengthened our collective voice and amplified the impact of our advocacy.”

ACH and Mountain Comprehensive congratulate Chris Bates on this well-deserved honor and thank him for his continued service to the health center movement and the communities it serves.

L.M. (Mike) Caudill, CEO of MCHC said, “I am very proud of Chris being selected as the ACH 2026 Advocate of the Year. Chris is one of MCHC’s brightest stars and it is especially rewarding for an elite organization, such as Advocates for Community Health, to officially recognize the talents and skills that makes him indispensable to MCHC.”

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About Advocates for Community Health
Established in 2021, Advocates for Community Health (ACH) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization of community health centers dedicated to forward-thinking and ambitious federal policy and advocacy on behalf of health centers, their patients, and their communities. To learn more, visit advocatesforcommunityhealth.org.

About Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation
Established in 1971, Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation (MCHC) is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center committed to delivering high-quality, comprehensive primary care and supportive services throughout Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia. MCHC employs nearly 600 staff members, including more than 90 healthcare providers, and serves over 54,000 unduplicated patients each year through more than 360,000 annual visits. Services include primary care, dental, optometry, pulmonology, podiatry, behavioral health, and additional specialty care.

The organization operates 15 clinic locations across Letcher, Perry, Owsley, Harlan, Bell, Pike, and Knott counties in Kentucky, along with one clinic in Wise County, Virginia. MCHC also manages nine school-based health centers within Letcher County Public Schools and Jenkins Independent Schools. In addition, MCHC operates two mobile health units-one serving Letcher, Perry, Knott, and Pike counties, and another serving Harlan and Bell counties. The organization further supports patient access to medications through eight pharmacies, including six located within clinic facilities and two standalone pharmacies in Owsley County and Hazard.