Rural Health Award Winners
Each year NRHA honors outstanding individuals and organizations in the field of rural health who have dedicated their time and talents to improving the health and well-being of others. Previous recipients have stretched the boundaries of possibility by forging innovative programs and services, making rural life healthier and more compassionate.
2024 - Keith Mueller, PhD
2023 - Bob Moser, MD
2022 - Jeremiah J. Hodshire
2021 - Alison Hughes
2020 - Greg Puckett
2019 - Maria Ryan, PhD
2018 - Rhonda Kay Skelton, RN
2017 - Howard Yonas, MD and James J. Dickson
2016 - Lynn Barr
2015 - Steven R. Shelton
2014 - Samuel C. Johnson II
2013 - Charlie Alfero
2012 - Joanne Cochran
2011 - Erika Ziller, Portland, Maine
2010 - Robin Rose, Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services, Gibson City, Ill.
2009 - Paul McGinnis, Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network
2008 - Baretta Casey, MD, UKY Center for Excellence in Rural Health
2007 - Sally Richardson, Charleston, W.V.
2005 - Fred Moskol, Madison, Wis.
2006 - Charlotte Hardt, Spokane, Wash.
2004 - Lorene R. Valentine, Wichita, Kan.
2003 - William A. Neal, MD, Morgantown, W.Va.
2002 - Tim Size, Sauk City, Wis.
2001 - Jeanne Bowden, PhD, LaGrande, Ore.
2000 - Warren C. Larson, Bemidgi, Minn.
1999 - Dennis P. Gross, Anchorage, Alaska
1997 - William A. Monaco, PhD, Talequah, Okla.
1994 - Gerald Sailer, MD, Hettinger, N.D.
1989 - Ray Christensen, MD, Gateway Clinic, Moose Lake, Minn.
1987 - Russell F. Lewis, MD, Marshfield, Wis.
2024 - Leo Blandford
2023 - Joel J. Johnson, MD
2022 - James Ellis Green, MD
2021 - Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD
2020 - Jeff Viar, DO
2019 - Paula Hill-Collins, DNP
2018 - Kent Hoerauf, MD, CMD, FACP
2017 - C. Donovan Beckett, DO
2016 - Dustin Hager
2015 - Wendel Ellis, DO
2014 - Hubert Seiler, MD
2013 - Larry Rhodes, MD
2012 - Tyler Hughes, MD
2011 - Dennis Kepka, MD, Ellsworth, Kan.
2010 - Rup Nagala, MD, Southeast Medical Center, Oakes, N.D.
2009 - Tom Dean, MD, Horizon Health Inc.- Jerauld County Clinic, Wessington Springs, S.D.
2008 - Terry Dickinson, DDS, Virginia Dental Association
2007 - Raymond D. Wells, MD, Inez, Ky.
2006 - Robert David Hill, DO, Southwest City, Mo.
2005 - William M. Dugan, Jr., MD, Indianapolis, Ind.
2004 - John K. Everett, DO, Indian River, Mich.
2003 - Thomas Jacobsen, MD, Hettinger, N.D.
2003 - Norman Haug, MD, Del Norte, Colo.
2002 - Jeffrey D. Menoff, DDS, Gowanda, N.Y.
2001 - Bruce Carlson, MD, Umatilla, Ore.
2000 - Patricia Raftery, DO, Sparta, Wis.
1999 - Richard V. Ohmart, MD, Oakley, Kan.
1998 - Clifford C. Smith, MD, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
1992 – Richard Steele Buker Jr., MD, Chester, Mont.
2024 - Rita Osborn
2023 - Diana C. Schow, PhD
2022 - Katy Kozhimannil, PhD
2021 - Not awarded
2020 - Andrea Wendling, MD
2019 - Michael Kennedy, MD, FAAFP
2018 - Cella Janisch-Hartline
2017 - Lisa McKeithan
2015 - K. Bryant Smalley, PhD, PsyD
2014 - Randall Longenecker, MD
2012 - Therese Zink, MD
2011 - Susan Stone, Hyden, Ky.
2010 - Michael Samuels, DrPH, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
2009 - J. Ocie Harris, Florida State University College of Medicine
2008 - Mary Willard, DDS, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
2007 - John R. Wheat, MD, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2006 - Byron Crouse, MD, Madison, Wis.
2004 - Robert K. Maudlin, PharmD, Spokane, Wash.
2003 - James Boulger, PhD, Duluth, Minn.
2001 - James R. Buechler, MD, Terre Haute, Ind.
2000 - Robert B. Walker, MD, Huntington, W.Va.
1999 - Charles G. Stephens, MD, Minneola, Kan.
2024 - John Gale
2023 - Elizabeth Crouch, PhD
2022 - Curt Mueller, PhD
2021 - Alana Knudson, PhD
2020 - Jan Eberth, PhD
2019 - Michael Meit, MA, MPH
2018 - K. Bryant Smalley, PhD, PsyD
2017 - Barbara Lee, PhD
2016 - Jacob Warren, PhD
2015 - Mark Holmes, PhD
2013 - George Pink, PhD
2012 - Timothy McBride, PhD
2011 - Robert Elliot, Baton Rouge, La.
2009 - William Weeks, Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
2008 - Janice C. Probst, PhD, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
2007 - Sara A. Quandt, PhD, Winston Salem, N.C.
2006 - Michelle Casey, Minneapolis, Minn.
2005 - Rebecca Slifkin, PhD, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2004 - Thomas A. Arcury, PhD, Winston Salem, N.C.
2003 - David Hartley, PhD, Portland, Maine
2002 - Michael Samuels, DrPH, Columbia, S.C.
2000 - Andrew E. Coburn, PhD, Portland, Maine
1999 - Lanis L. Hicks, PhD, Columbia, Mo.
2024 - Columbia Memorial Hospital
2023 - Memorial Hospital Association
2022 - Northern Dental Access Center
2021 - Coalfield Health Center
2020 - Baldwin Family Health Care
2019 - Stone Mountain Health Services
2018 - St. Luke's Miners Rural Health Clinics
2017 - CommWell Health
2016 - Richard C. Lugar Center for Rural Health
2015 - Sakakawea Medical Center & Coal Country Community Health Center
2014 - Henry County Health Center
2013 - Arizona Center for Rural Health
2012 - Beartooth Billings Clinic
2011 - St Mary's/Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics, Orofino, Ind.
2010 - Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc., Lexington, Ky.
2009 - Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande, Ore.
2008 - Gerber Memorial Health System
2007 - Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor, Maine
2006 - Ashe Memorial Hospital, R.D. Williams, Ashe, N.C.
2005 - Rural Healthcare Cooperative Network, Western Neb.
Prior to 2005, the award was named the Outstanding Rural Health Practice Award
2003 - West River Health Services, Jim K. Long, Hettinger, N.D.
2002 - Bladen Medical Associates, Robert Rich, MD, medical director, Elizabethtown, N.C.
2001 - Health Communities Partnership, Dayle Eldredge, director, Lincoln, Ill.
2000 - Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Lois Baker, director, Whitesburg, Ky.
1999 - Shackelford County Community Resource Center, Susan H. Jones, director, Albany, Texas.
2024 - Texas Panhandle Rural Nursing Education Consortium
2023 - Serving Oregon and its Migrants by Offering Solutions (SOMOS)
2022 (tie) - Healthy Hillsboro
2022 (tie) - Mass General Hospital
2021 - Northeast Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition
2020 - The Collaborative Courts Addiction and Drug Service Program at Margaret Mary Health
2019 - Bienville Family Clinic
2018 - NOSORH's National Rural Health Day
2017 - N.C. REACH
2016 - Disparities Elimination Summer Research Experience
2015 - Innovative Readiness Training Collaborative
2015 - Rural Behavioral Health Primary Care Collaborative
2014 - Alaska Federal Health Care Partnership
2014 - Mariposa Community Health Center, Platicamos Salud Department
2013 - Alabama Rural Health Leaders Pipeline, Univ. of Alabama
2012 - Access Health, Blessing Hospital
2011 - Alaska Federal Health Care Partnership, Anchorage, Alaska
2010 - Pike County Community Health Partnership, Pittsfield, Ill.
2009 - Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Designated Regional Coordinator Network
2008 - Kentucky Homeplace, Hazard, Ky.
2007 - East Tennessee State University, Rural and Community Health and Community Partnerships, Bruce Behringer, Johnson City, Tenn.
2006 - Bassett Healthcare School-Based Health Program, Chris Kjolhede, MD, Cooperstown, N.Y.
2005 - Cenla Medication Access Program, Alexandria, La.
2004 - Oregon Health Sciences University, Nancy Findbolt, Portland, Ore.
2003 - Diabetes Lay Educator Program, Migrant Health Service, Inc. Loretta Jean Heurer, PhD, Moorhead, Minn.
2002 - South Dakota S.E.E.D. Project, Byron Peterson, vice-president, Aberdeen, S.D.
2001 - Department of Family Medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Michael A. Sitorius, MD, chairman, Omaha, Neb.
2000 - University of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Rural Health, Loyd Kepferle, director, Hazard, Ky.
1999 - Bladen Rural Health Network, Leo A. Petit, Jr., director, Elizabethtown, N.C.
1996 - Wichita Family Medicine Residency Program at Smoky Hill, Rick Kellerman MD, program director, Salina, Kan.
1990 - Family Practice Preceptorship Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth School of Medicine, James G. Boulger, PhD, director, Duluth, Minn.
1985 - Rural Wisconsin Hospital Cooperative
2013 - Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services, Gibson City, Ill.
2012 - Crete Area Medical Center, Crete, Neb.
2011 - Johnson County Community Hospital, Mountain City, Tenn.
2009 - Family Medicine of Port Angeles, Wash.
2008 - Virginia Community Healthcare Association's Health Disparities Collaborative Initiative
2007 - The Tennessee Rural Hospital Patient Safety Demonstration Project, Bill Jolley, Nashville, Tenn.
2006 - Memorial Health Center, Rosalyn Haase, Medford Wis.
2005 - Stratis Health, Bloomington, Minn.
2024 - Mary-Katherine McNatt, DrPH
2023 - Brock Slabach
2022 - Dale Quinney, MPH
2021 - National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
2020 - Tommy Barnhart
2019 - Bill Auxier, PhD
2018 - Roger D. Wells, PA-C
2017 - Mary Sheridan
2016 - Alana Knudson, PhD
2015 - Pat Schou
2014 - Terry Hill
2013 - Gail Nickerson
2023 - Zachary Strecker
2022 - Rebekka Delgado
2021 - Douglas Snow
2020 - Jennifer Kowalkowski
2019 - Donald Quintin Brubaker
2018 - Grant Gase
2017 - Julie Middleton
2016 - Hallie Foster
2015 - Alex Spencer
2014 - Tate Hinkle
2013 - Erin Locke
2012 - Laci Rector
2011 - Gena Cooper, Madison, Wis.
2010 - Michelle Clark-Forsting, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
2009 - Christine Hancock, University of California-San Francisco
2008 - Deanah Maxwell, Tuscaloosa Family Practice Residency Program
2007 - Lars E. Peterson, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
2023 - Jennifer Davis, MD
2022 - Julia D. Interrante
2021 - Kelly Dougherty
2020 - Lisa Simon, DMD
2019 - Kacie Hoyle Denton
2018 - Jacob Thatcher
2017 - Peiyin Hung
2016 - Matt Workman
2013 - Ian Stormont
2012 - Charles Jantzen
2011 - Colin Buzza, Iowa City, Iowa
2010 - Amy Dore, Highland Ranch, Colo.
2009 - Michael Arnold, University of South Dakota
2008 - Josh Bell, University of Alabama Rural Medical Scholars Program
2007 - Jay Nastav & Zach Allred, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
2024 - Lisa Ann Rantz
2023 - Kevin Bennett, PhD
2022 - Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD
2021 - Pat Schou
2020 - Timothy L. Putnam, DHA
2019 - Susan Kunz, MPH
2018 - Michelle Mills
2017 - Tim Wolters
2016 - Janice C. Probst, PhD
2015 - John Gale
2014 - David Schmitz, M.D.
2013 - Bill Sexton
2012 - Becky Conditt
2011 - Lance Keilers
2010 - Keith Mueller
2009 - Jodi Schmidt
2008 - Stacy Fontenot
2007 - Beth Landon
2006 - Richard Thompson
2005 - Laurie Menderous
2003 - George Miller
2002 - David Sniff
2001 - Susan Wilson
1999 - Keith Mueller
(Awarded by the National Rural Primary Care Association prior to becoming NRHA)
1982 - United Clinics/West River HMO