NOSORH Honors Four Rural Health Leaders, State Office

November 18, 2009 -- Austin, Texas

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) presented its 2009 rural health awards to four well-known leaders and a deserving State Office of Rural Health during the organization’s annual conference today (November 18) in Austin, Texas.

Pat Carr, director of the Alaska Office of Rural Health and chief of the Alaska Section of Health Planning and Systems Development, received NOSORH’s 2009 James D. Bernstein Mentoring Award. The award – named in memory of Jim Bernstein, a rural health pioneer who formed the first state office of rural health in the United States (in North Carolina) – is given to a long-time rural health leader who has gone “above and beyond the call of duty” to mentor emerging rural health leaders.

Dr. Amy Brock Martin, deputy director of the South Carolina Rural Research Center at the University of South Carolina, received the organization’s 2009 Recognition Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has been supportive of State Offices of Rural Health at the state, regional and national level and has assisted them in their efforts to improve the health status of rural Americans. Nominations for the award are accepted each year from NOSORH members, the National Rural Health Association, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and other national rural health organizations.

Charles Owens, executive director of the Georgia State Office of Rural Health, received NOSORH’s 2009 Distinguished Service Award. NOSORH presents the award each year to a NOSORH member who has made an outstanding contribution or contributions to the organization and is actively involved in a State Office of Rural Health.

The Michigan Center for Rural Health received NOSORH’s 2009 Award of Merit, which is given each year to a State Office of Rural Health that has made outstanding contributions, developed innovative programs and/or conducted significant activities that advance the missions of State Offices of Rural Health and improve the health status of rural Americans.

Additionally, Dr. Marcia Brand, deputy administrator of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, received a Special Lifetime Service Award to honor her “lifetime of distinguished and dedicated service to improve the health of Rural Americans.”

NOSORH was created in 1995 to serve as an influential voice for rural health concerns and promote a healthy rural America through state and community leadership. NOSORH furthers the missions of state offices of rural health by supporting the development of state and community rural health leaders; creating/facilitating partnerships that foster information sharing and spur rural health-related programs; and helping communities enhance access to quality healthcare services.

For additional information, please contact NOSORH Executive Director Teryl Eisinger at teryle@nosorh.org or (586) 739-9940 or NOSORH Communications Coordinator Bill Hessert at billh@nosorh.org or (814) 308-8697.