Peace River Center, a licensed and nationally accredited nonprofit regional provider of behavioral health care and victim services, is celebrating the statewide recognition of Patricia Clark, APRN, who was named Medical Professional of the Year at the Florida Behavioral Health Association’s Awards of Excellence.
The Awards of Excellence celebrate outstanding achievements in Florida’s behavioral health workforce through a distinguished annual recognition program. The awards honor exceptional contributions from staff and peers within Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) member organizations, recognizing their dedication and impact on their communities, colleagues, and clients.
Clark was first honored as Peace River Center’s 2026 Medical Professional of the Year during the organization’s Annual Awards of Excellence. Her nomination was then submitted to FBHA, where she was chosen from many professionals nominated from across the state.
The award was presented during the FBHA’s annual conference, held August 26-28, 2026, in Orlando. The conference attracted approximately 1,800 attendees and is the largest behavioral health conference in the Southeast. The annual gathering brings together community providers, treatment professionals, and industry leaders to explore emerging trends, effective practices, and critical challenges in mental health and substance use care.
In addition to celebrating Clark’s achievement, Peace River Center was represented at the conference by Donna Rininger, LMHC, MCAP, Director of Specialty Services, who presented “The Role of Epigenetics in the Counseling Field.”
Rininger’s presentation explored the growing field of epigenetics and its implications for behavioral health and counseling. Epigenetics examines how external factors, including environmental experiences and lifestyle, can influence gene expression. Drawing on advances in epigenetic research, Rininger highlighted the complex relationship among genetics, environment, lifestyle, and mental health. The presentation built on her original FBHA presentation, “Tracing Trauma through the Generations,” delivered in August 2023, and featured new research and applications in the field.
“I was genuinely excited by the new research in epigenetics and the possibilities it presents for counseling. The more we learn about how our experiences and environment can influence gene expression, the better we can understand their impact on mental health. I’m excited about finding practical ways to apply this emerging research to benefit our clients and strengthen the work we do as counselors,” said Rininger.
Together, Clark’s statewide recognition and Rininger’s conference presentation reflect Peace River Center’s commitment to both exceptional care and continued professional development within the behavioral health field for the communities of Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties.