Physician honored for faith, compassion and whole-person care across rural Appalachia

For Rajiv Naval Srinivas, MD, medicine has always been about more than treating illness — it is about serving people.

That commitment was recently recognized when Dr. Naval received the Christian Service Award at AdventHealth’s Mission and Ministry Conference.

David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth, presented Dr. Naval with the award, which honors exemplary service and dedication to AdventHealth’s mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ.

A calling to serve

Born and raised in Mysuru, India, Dr. Naval was encouraged by his family to pursue medicine as a way to serve others.

That calling eventually brought him to rural Appalachia, where he has cared for patients in Clay County, Kentucky, since 2003.

Today, Dr. Naval cares for patients through AdventHealth Primary Care Clinic in Manchester and AdventHealth Red Bird Clinic in Beverly.

With advanced training in geriatric medicine and infectious diseases, he has spent more than two decades caring for people across generations while developing deep connections within the communities he serves.

His approach to medicine reflects AdventHealth’s commitment to caring for the whole person — body, mind and spirit.

For Dr. Naval, that can mean looking beyond a diagnosis to understand the challenges affecting a patient's health and daily life.

That philosophy has been evident throughout his years of service. In a previous AdventHealth story about food insecurity in the Manchester community, Dr. Naval explained how helping patients meet basic needs can make an important difference in their ability to focus on their health.

Mission in action

The Christian Service Award recognizes more than professional achievement — it celebrates service rooted in compassion, faith and a willingness to care for others.

Dr. Naval’s career embodies those values.

From caring for older adults and patients with complex medical needs to serving communities where access to care can be challenging, he has made his life's work about being present for people when they need care most.

His recognition at the Mission and Ministry Conference reflects a tradition at AdventHealth of celebrating individuals whose work brings its faith-based mission to life.