OSU Center for Rural Health receives honors
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
TULSA, Okla. - Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health has been honored by two organizations for its achievements in rural medical education and rural health care. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma Champions of Health program named the center as a recipient of its Champion of Public Health award and the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma has named it the Rural Organization of the Year for 2007.
“The OSU Center for Rural Health team is grateful for this recognition of our center, its stakeholders and partners who work to promote care in Oklahoma,” said Dr. William J. Pettit, OSU Center for Health Sciences associate dean for rural health. “There is a great deal to accomplish and we are honored as employees of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences to receive these awards.”
The Champions of Health award recognizes the center for improving the health and well-being of rural Oklahomans, who make up more than half of the state’s population. It lauds the center’s positive results through osteopathic student education and residency training, research, program applications, advocacy and alliances with other organizations that share the same goals.
In addition, the award recognizes the center’s impact on osteopathic physicians and their rural practices as it provides support services and strengthens the broader health care delivery systems in the rural communities where they practice. The physicians are prepared for the unique challenges of rural medicine, ensuring that quality physicians are available to serve rural Oklahomans. The award will be presented on Oct. 8 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
The Rural Health Association of Oklahoma’s award, presented Sept. 14 at the organization’s annual conference, honored OSU for its dedication and commitment to rural health, and for serving as an example for other organizations to follow.
The association also named OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus Dr. Mike Ogle of Enid as Rural Practitioner of the Year.
About OSU Center for Rural Health
The Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health improves health care in Oklahoma
through osteopathic student education and residency training, research, program applications
and advocacy and alliances with others who share the same goals. The OSU Center for
Rural Health uniquely impacts osteopathic physicians from the time they are students
through the time they are practicing in rural communities by training osteopathic
students, providing support services to osteopathic physicians and their rural practices
and strengthening the broader health care delivery systems in rural communities where
they practice.
About OSU Medicine
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, Okla., offers programs
in osteopathic medicine, biomedical sciences and forensic sciences, with an emphasis
on preparing physicians for rural and under-served Oklahoma. The OSU College of Osteopathic
Medicine has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top
medical schools in the nation for the past seven years. OSU operates six clinics,
five in Tulsa and one in Enid.
Click HERE to link to full story on OSU-CHS web site. Also, click HERE to see more information about the Champions of Health Award on the home page of the OSU-CHS web site.