The Center for Rural Health (CRH) - serves Arizona through its mission to “improve the health and wellness of rural populations.” Established as the Rural Health Office in 1981 with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it coordinates statewide rural health initiatives. Center staff, faculty and collaborators have expertise in population, rural and border health; rural and critical access hospitals; community health centers including rural health clinics (RHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); health workforce assessment, planning and policy development; community engagement; service-learning training; practice based research; and rural health policy development, implementation and assessment. The Center houses programs funded in part by the state, the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and other sources to support the Arizona State Office of Rural Health (AzSORH), the Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (AzFlex), and the Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP). From the Rural Health Office (RHO) founding director - Dr. Andy Nichols, to Alison Hughes MPA who transitioned the RHO, founded the Center for Rural Health (CRH) and served as its first Director, to Dr. Gary Hart and Dr. Neil MacKinnon, to its current Director, Dr. Dan Derksen - the Center has worked closely with community partners to improve health outcomes and access to quality healthcare, and reduce health disparities. Attribution for success extends broadly to these leaders, particularly the partners, staff and faculty who have tirelessly committed to the Center’s mission for more than three decades.
