In Their Words: Dr. George Garrow on Vision, Investment, and Community Wellbeing
The Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s (BRHF) mission and purpose is best described by our leadership, who live in our community in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. In this series of stories in their words, we will illuminate the foundation’s commitment to improving the overall well-being of the youth and families in our region, by strategically investing in community-driven initiatives that make a lasting impact.
Vision and Origin Story
For Dr. George Garrow, understanding the impact of the Buhl Regional Health Foundation begins with understanding its origin. The Foundation was established by the Christian H. Buhl Legacy Trust to ensure that the resources entrusted to the Trust would be distributed thoughtfully and meaningfully to support the wellness needs of the community.
Rather than operating as a traditional charitable fund, BRHF was designed with longevity in mind. Its perpetual nonprofit investment model preserves the original gift while using annual earnings to fund programs and initiatives aligned with its mission. This approach allows the Foundation to grow sustainably while continually reinvesting in the wellbeing of Mercer County residents — honoring the philosophy of Christian H. Buhl by ensuring the gift remains a living resource for generations.
Dr. Garrow emphasizes that this history carries an ongoing responsibility.
“The financial resources of the Foundation are a community legacy, created to serve as assets for the benefit of our entire community,” he explains. “Therefore, as a private foundation, we are obligated to be good stewards of this legacy, using these resources in ways that will have the greatest impact on the well-being of the Mercer County community.”
In his view, the Foundation’s origin is not simply background information — it is the guiding framework for how decisions are made today.
A Strategic Investment
That sense of stewardship shapes how BRHF approaches its work. For Dr. Garrow, the Foundation’s role is not just to fund programs, but to invest strategically in the long-term health of the entire community.
“Our stewardship as a strategic investment is about making sure that the foundation’s funds are available for the greatest, longest period of time,” he says. “That the foundation is sustainable and meets the good of the entire community. Not one stakeholder, not one group of individuals, but the community at large.”
This investment mindset ensures that resources remain available not only for immediate needs but also for future challenges and opportunities. By balancing sustainability with impact, BRHF works to create solutions that endure far beyond a single grant cycle.
One Program at a Time, Changing Lives
While strategy guides the Foundation’s approach, its impact is most visible through the programs and people it supports. Dr. Garrow points to initiatives that demonstrate how thoughtful investment translates into real change — particularly for young people and families.
“Two really good examples of fulfilling the foundation’s mission of supporting the community and wellbeing, particularly for the youth, are Camp Courage and the Free Community Dental Clinic.”
Camp Courage represents a unique response to an often-overlooked need: helping children navigate grief and loss in healthy, supportive ways.
“Camp Courage, as far as I know, is the first of its kind in this community. It is a unique blueprint in this area for children who have experienced grief and loss in a healthy, healing way. The camp can be a life altering experience for our Mercer County youth as well as their families and their caregivers. The investment and the support of the camp has been a phenomenal opportunity for the Buhl Regional Health Foundation to show its love and support for our community.”
Access to dental care is another area where BRHF’s investments address critical gaps in services.
“The second is the Community Dental Clinic that the foundation supports in our communities. Dental care has limited access, limited availability, particularly for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. The support of this free dental clinic as well as the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Dental Clinic, has afforded individuals (and families) in our community access to dental health, which is part of healthcare outcomes too.”
For Dr. Garrow, oral health represents more than clinical care — it connects directly to dignity, confidence, and opportunity.
“When we have good oral health, good oral hygiene, it is part of good health for the whole body. It’s also about healing body image issues. For folks that have poor oral health, they sometimes have low self-esteem and have difficulty interviewing for a job, which can be a struggle for overall wellbeing. Providing free access to improve their oral health can open up doors for them that they just may feel haven’t been available to them in the past.”
Commitment to a Broader View of Health
Dr. Garrow’s perspective is shaped by decades of experience as a physician, where he has seen firsthand how health extends far beyond medical treatment alone.
“The Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s work and programs have deep resonance for me and our community. I used to think that because I’m a physician, that I am the most important part of my patient’s care team because I am the doctor. As I’ve matured, I realized that health is not limited to what happens in the doctor’s office.”
“In fact, the vast majority of health and wellbeing happens outside of the doctor’s office with non-medical health related needs or social determinants of health.”
He notes that Mercer County is uniquely positioned because of the Foundation’s presence and willingness to invest in those broader determinants of wellbeing.
“As I talk to colleagues of mine who are in similar positions and other communities across the state and the country, we are so fortunate in this Mercer County community to have the resources and the assets of the Buhl Regional Health Foundation to allow us to be progressive and really think about those non-medical health and wellbeing related needs. I’ve seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of life of our patients and our communities as a direct response to the work that the Buhl Regional Health Foundation is doing,” says Dr. Garrow
“As a Board Member and community leader, I value the Buhl Regional Health Foundation because it enables us, the community, to think beyond the brick and mortar aspect of healthcare and think about health, wellbeing, and resilience in a holistic way for the community. I am a member of our community and I see the Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s importance in action when they are able to support and sustain programs in our community that otherwise may not be available, like Camp Courage, the Community Dental Clinic and The HubSpot local resource programs. These are fundamental initiatives that otherwise our community may not have had access to,” says Dr. Garrow.
About Dr. George Garrow
Dr. George Garrow, CEO of Primary Health Network, is a dedicated leader in rural health and has been instrumental in improving care across Pennsylvania. His commitment to Mercer County is reflected through his service on the Buhl Regional Health Foundation Board of Directors and the County Health Task Force. Through his leadership and involvement, Dr. Garrow has helped shape policies and initiatives that continue to improve health outcomes and strengthen the wellbeing of the region.
