Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center Recognized as Kentucky’s “Community Star” on National Rural Health Day

Morehead, KY – Northeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center has been named Kentucky’s 2022 Community Star, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) recently announced.

The Northeast Kentucky AHEC will be featured in the 2022 edition of the Community Star eBook on page 22, which will be available on the official NRHD website, PowerofRural.org, on November 17, 2022. The eBook will showcase the stories of Community Stars from 48 states, exemplifying this year’s NRHD theme of “Driving Change and Going the Extra Mile.”

“We were nominated for this prestigious award by a staff member from the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, and it is truly an honor,” said David Gross, SCH Administrative Director for Education and Research and Director of NE KY AHEC. “Our team demonstrates a community-focused mindset for our rural area, which makes NE KY AHEC the perfect candidate.”

On the third Thursday of November, NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day (NRHD), an annual celebration that honors those serving the vital health needs of nearly 61 million rural Americans. NOSORH’s National Rural Health Day showcases efforts made by rural organizations, including healthcare providers, to address unique challenges rural citizens may face. To be nominated as a state’s “Community Star,” the organization must show innovation, demonstrate leadership to grow rural populations and health equity, strive to grow rural programs, and be mission-driven while contributing to rural health innovation, education, collaboration, and communication.

“NE KY AHEC is one of eight regional centers in Kentucky, with more than 235 nationwide,” said Gross. “Our mission is to enhance access to quality healthcare services in rural and medically underserved areas. Being recognized for those efforts validates our work toward the mission and lets us know that we are heading in the right direction when it comes to serving our rural communities.”