Joel Marx — home medical equipment (HME) veteran and a long-time industry leader — has been named the 2024 Van Miller Homecare Champion.

Marx — chairman of Medical Service Company, headquartered in Cleveland — was presented the award on March 27, during the annual Stand Up for Homecare reception at Medtrade in Dallas.

“Joel exudes passion, leadership, and a collaborative nature,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) in the March 20 award announcement. “He has served in varying levels of leadership, providing clear insight into the direction the HME industry should be headed and understanding of how to get there. He is willing to take a stand for patients and colleagues, and I am honored to call him a friend.”

Ryan presented the award to Marx at d.e.c. on dragon st., the venue for the Stand Up for Homecare reception. Also on hand for the presentation was Josh Marx, Medical Service Company’s CEO, chairman of AAHomecare’s board of directors, and Joel’s son.

In the award announcement, AAHomecare noted, “Marx has held various roles within the home medical equipment association environment with tenacity, incredible drive, and generosity of time. He is a strong leader who has been appointed to various boards and committees of both state and national medical equipment service and hospice organizations, including past president of the Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services, and as chair of the Home Medical Equipment/Respiratory Therapy Council (HME/RT) and past Chairman of the Board for AAHomecare. He has also been publicly recognized for his skills, serving as a governor-appointed Board Member of the Ohio Respiratory Care Board.”

The Homecare Champion award is named for the late Van G. Miller, VGM & Associates founder, “who embodied the characteristics of this award,” AAHomecare said as it was accepting nominations earlier this year.