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NRHA's Rural Health Policy Congress

The Rural Health Policy Congress is the policy-making body of NRHA. Elected representatives from throughout the association give broad grassroots representation that reflects the concerns of rural America. The Rural Health Policy Congress determines the association's policy positions through a series of policy briefs and papers.

Rural Health Policy Congress Roster

The Rural Health Policy Congress is composed of individuals from NRHA's constituency groups, councils, and association leadership.

The responsibilities of NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Congress members are to:

Identify topics and provide technical expertise on the development of Association policies
Create, review, and approve Association policy recommendations and positions
Ensure the Association’s guiding principles and mission are promoted through policy development
Develop policy papers to communicate the Associations priorities and recommendations

Rural Health Policy Congress Leadership

Rural Health Congress Chair Elizabeth Crouch, PhD Columbia, S.C.	Rural Health Congress Vice Chair Robert Duehmig Portland, Ore.
NRHA Officers	Past Presidents Council
President Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD Minneapolis, MN	2020 NRHA President Pat Schou, MS Princeton, Ill.
President Elect Toniann Richard Lexington, Mo.	2021 NRHA President John Gale, MS Portland, Maine
Past President Michelle Mills Aurora, Colo.	2022 NRHA President Beth O’Connor, MEd Blacksburg, Va.
Treasurer Joanie Perkins Ruleville, Miss.	2023 NRHA President Leslie Marsh, MBA Kearney, Neb.
Secretary Kate Hill, RN Spring House, Pa.	2024 NRHA President Kevin Bennett, PhD Columbia, S.C.

Constituency Group and Council Chairs

Clinical Services CG Chair Mina Tanaka, MD Shiprock, N.M.	Federally Qualified Health Centers CG Chair Joshua Gilmore, MBA Talkeetna, Ark.	Health Equity Council Chair Mary Katherine McNatt, DrPH Kirksville, Mo.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Chair Jeremy Levin, MHA Sauk City, Wisc.	Public Health CG Chair Megan Weis, DrPH Columbia, S.C.	Research and Education CG Chair Whitney Zahnd, PhD Iowa City, Iowa
Rural Health Clinic CG Chair TBD TBD	State Association Council Chair Lisa Rantz, MPH Hilo, Hawaii	State Office Council Chair Natalie Claiborne, MPH Bozeman, Mont.
Statewide Health Resources CG Chair Scott Daniels, PhD Hilo, Hawaii	Student CG Chair Garrett Orick Knoxville, Tenn.

Constituency Group and Council Representatives

Clinical Services CG Representative Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD Fredonia, Kan.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Trent Bourland Coalgate, Okla.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Jeremy Cannon, MSN Kalkaska, Mich.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Jacqueline Rae Costley-Reviel, MSN Kinder. La.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Kelly Erb Zager Centennial, Colo.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Jed Hansen, PhD Papillion, Neb.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Jared Heim, CPA Dubuque, Iowa	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Ruby Kirby, MBA Bolivar, Tenn.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Lauren LaPine-Ray, DrPH East Lansing, Mich.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative SuLynn Mester, DNP Arlington, Texas	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Donna Newchurch Baton Rouge, La.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Jenny Niblock, DNP Colby, Kan.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Steve Pautler, DPS Chickasha, Okla.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Mary Ellen Pratt, MHA Lutcher, La.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Michelle Rathman Geneva, Ill.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Kevin Stansbury, JD Hugo, Colo.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Olivia Sweetnam, MSN Townshend, Vt.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative David Theroux, MBA Clewiston, Fla.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Virginia Tonelli Clarion, Iowa	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Tracy Warner Putnam, Ill.	Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Roger Wells, PA Lexington, Neb.
Hospital & Community Health Systems CG Representative Deborah Whitley, CPA Waco, Texas	Public Health CG Representative David Line, PhD Nutrioso, Ariz.	Public Health CG Representative Isela Garcia, MPH Las Cruces, N.M.
Research & Education CG Representatives Britta Anderson, PhD Minneapolis, Minn.	Research & Education CG Representatives Carrie Shaver, DHA Lubbock, Texas	Research & Education CG Representatives Devon Noonan, PhD Durham, N.C.
Rural Health Clinic CG Representatives Kendra Noyes, MHA Upper Sandusky, Ohio	Rural Health Clinic CG Representatives Steven Smith, MBA Overland Park, Kan.	Statewide Health Resources CG Representatives Jacy Warrell Decaturville, Tenn.
Student CG Representative Bradley Firchow Lexington, Ky.	Student CG Representative Colton Kendall Lexington, Ky.	Student CG Representative Kade Squires Broken Arrow, Okla.