The Iowa Rural Health Association (IRHA) is proud to join the celebration of National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on November 16, 2023. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and rural-focused organizations throughout the United States set aside the third Thursday of November to recognize NRHD. This annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the “Power of Rural” and honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America and the more than 1.2 million people living in rural Iowa. Rural Iowa residents are served by nearly 100 rural hospitals and more than 200 Medicare-certified rural health clinics.

On October 18^th, IRHA members and friends met for its conference in Marshalltown with more than 100 rural health advocates from across the state in attendance—include health care providers and administrators, health care organizations, non-profit organizations, state agencies, managed care organizations, college students, and academic professionals. This event provided a great opportunity for networking and collaboration. “We look forward to building upon this momentum to grow and more fully engage our membership and to strengthen our reach and partnership with other organizations who share our vision of optimal health for all Iowans with a particular focus on rural populations in the next year,” says IRHA President Whitney Zahnd. “With our partnership with Drake University and the new members of our board and executive committee, we are excited to continue to advance rural health in the state of Iowa. For our current members, please be on the lookout for more information about ways to become more fully involved in the coming months. For future members, we welcome your engagement.”

Additional information about National Rural Health Day, including resources and tools, can be found at PowerofRural.org.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) is pleased to announce this year’s National Rural Health Day event! Join them on November 16, from 3-4 PM ET, and get ready to be informed and inspired as we explore strategies at both the state and national levels to enhance the well-being of rural Americans. Hear directly from the newly established CDC Office of Rural Health about their mission and vision. Plus, don’t miss inspiring case studies from the field featuring transformative work in Texas and Virginia.

Register Now!

To learn more about the Iowa Rural Health Association, visit www.iaruralhealth.org.

A PDF version of IRHA’s 2023 National Rural Health Day statement is available here.

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