Oregon Rural Health Hero of the Year Award

Pat Neal: 2011 Oregon Rural Health Hero of the Year

The Oregon Office of Rural Health at Oregon Health & Science University annually opens a nomination process to determine a recipient of the Oregon Rural Health Hero of the Year Award. This award honors an outstanding person, program or organization that has been responsible for improving the quality and availability of health care in rural Oregon communities.

“There are many hard working, dedicated people out there who have made a major impact on health care in rural Oregon,” says Scott Ekblad, Director of the Oregon Office of Rural Health. “Every year, we ask our constituents to think about nominating someone whose actions have had a notable, positive impact on the health of the community, or a successful program that other communities might want to duplicate. They are asked, how about a teacher or coach with a unique approach to educating students on health care risk prevention, or a health care provider, clinic or health department that has demonstrated a unique devotion to the populations they serve?”