HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the appointment of
five rural health experts to serve on the National Advisory Committee
on Rural Health.
“The five new members of the committee are national
leaders in rural health,” Thompson said. “Their input will ensure that
HHS and its many programs serve and support rural communities as strongly
as possible.”
The selections are:
- Evan Dillard, administrator of the Walker Baptist Medical
Center in Jasper, Ala.,
- Joellen Edwards, a nurse practitioner and educator from East
Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn.,
- Michael Enright, a psychologist and nurse practitioner from
Jackson, Wyo.,
- Raymond D. Rawson, a dentist and state legislator from
Carson City, Nev.,
- Glenn D. Steele, administrator of the Geisinger Health
System in Danville, Pa.
The 16-member committee, chaired by former South
Carolina Governor David Beasley, meets three times a year and prepares
annual reports for the Secretary on key health issues that affect rural
communities. This year the committee will focus on two issues – rural
health quality and workforce.
The committee will also play a key role in a new
Department-wide initiative designed to strengthen rural health
care. Initiative staff received more than 450 comments from members of
the public on rural health issues; among the most critical issues
identified were access to mental health and oral health
services. The committee’s new members, who will serve four-year terms,
include rural experts in both these fields.
For more information on the committee, contact the
Office of Rural Health Policy
(http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/)
in HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, which provides
staff support to its efforts, at (301) 443-0835.
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