RHAO Announces Award Winners for 2010

Weatherford, OK, September 24, 2010 – The Rural Health Association of Oklahoma (RHAO) recently honored ten Oklahomans, including four state legislators, for their outstanding dedication to rural health. The awards were presented Friday, September 24th, at the awards luncheon, during the 19th annual RHAO Fall Conference, held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman Oklahoma. The theme for this year's conference was "Health Reform and Rural Oklahoma". Along with the awards luncheon, attendees heard keynote speaker, Maggie Elehwany National Rural Health Association V.P. for Government Affairs, seven plenary sessions, three (of nine) concurrent sessions and an Oklahoma Legislative Update by Senator Patrick Anderson. This conference truly supported Rural Health Association of Oklahoma's mission of "serving as a united voice for Oklahomans in the promotion of rural health issues, through advocacy, education and leadership."

The recipients for the 2010 awards are:

Legislative Excellence in Rural Health
Representative Lee Denney (R) Cushing, OK;
Representative Purcy Walker (D), Elk City, OK;
Senator Jay Paul Gumm (D) Durant, OK and
Senator David Myers (R) Ponca City, OK.
This award is given to legislators who consistently show their belief in the importance of rural health services to their constituents. Senator Patrick Anderson, who accepted on behalf of Senator Myers said "the RHAO Board could not have picked a finer group to recognize"

Rural Administrator of the Year
Debbie Howe, CEO
Weatherford Regional Hospital
This award honors an administrator who has consistently gone above and beyond to make sure their patients are well cared for and their hospital is the best it can be. Ms. Howe said she "knows she is exactly where she should be" and she feels the award is only possible with all the support she receives from her hospital employees, Medical Staff and board. She added she was very pleased to receive the award from, Shelly Dunham, new RHAO President. Shelly is the CEO at Okeene Municipal Hospital where Debbie is the former CEO, they worked together many years.

Rural Physician of the Year
Troy Harden, DO
Carnegie
The Rural Physician of the Year is given to honor a physician who exemplifies dedication and service to rural residents. Dr Harden was recognized for his level of patient care as well as his dedication to the clinic and hospitals he serves. Dr. Harden stated in his accepting remarks that the award was not only for him, but also for his nurses who help him practice medicine.

Rural Health Program of the Year
Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Program Office, Tulsa

North East Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Tulsa Community College, Tulsa

South West Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Cameron University, Lawton

South East Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Carl Albert State College, Poteau

North West Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Rural Health Projects, INC, Enid

The award for Rural Health Program of the Year goes to the organization that has made a significant difference in the provision of services, quality improvement or training. The award this year was unique as there were in essence five recipients. The OKAHEC program constitutes a program office and four separate centers that work in collaboration with each other and their host to improve the distribution of healthcare professionals throughout rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma. In support of the nomination for OKAHEC an RHAO board member wrote "While we all have talked about broad legislative support and the workforce problems in Oklahoma, very few of us could equal the AHEC specific accomplishments, collaborations and partnerships. In my view, we need that to show how AHEC is making a difference." After accepting on behalf of the OKAHEC Program, Richard Perry, OKAHEC Program Director, hanks the four centers and their staff on the work they do, and thanked Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences, and Dr Bill Pettit, DO, Dean of Rural Health, for their support of the OKAHEC Program.