Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard

Kentuckian Named to NRHA’s Rural Health Congress

HAZARD, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2009) − Dr. Baretta R. Casey, director of the University of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard, has been appointed to the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Rural Health Congress.

The Rural Health Congress is NRHA’s policy−making body. It is made up of elected representatives from each of the association’s nine constituency groups, its State Association Council, State Office Council, issue groups and the association’s officers. This gives the board grassroots representation that reflects the concerns of NRHA’s more than 18,000 members.

The Rural Health Congress determines the association’s positions on public policy through a series of policy briefs and issue papers. Casey will be a representative of the Research and Education Constituency Group.

"I am appreciative of the opportunity to positively impact rural health on a national level," said Casey, who also serves on the American Medical Association’s Council on Medical Education.

NRHA’s Research and Education Constituency Group is chaired by Roxanna Jokela, director of the Rural Health Education Network and deputy director of the Nebraska Area Health Education Center Program Office at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

"Baretta Casey brings a wealth of applied rural health professions workforce and health services research experience, as well as national workforce policy experience with the American Medical Association," Jokela said. "She will be a valued addition to our representation on the NRHA Rural Health Congress."

The UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard, located at 750 Morton Blvd. in Hazard, works to improve the health of rural Kentuckians through education, research, health care services and community engagement. For more information about the Center and its programs, you may call (606) 439−3557 or 1−800−851−7512.