Rural Health Awards  

Each year the Rural Health Association of Tennessee recognizes individuals and groups of individuals from across the state of Tennessee who have dedicated themselves to the service of others within the field of rural healthcare. 

2023 Nominations are now open!

View description of award categories 
Download nomination form

Past Award Recipients

Award of Merit

2022 Jered Croom and Samuel LaFave 2021 The Office of Health Disparities Elimination 
 2017 Byron Harbolt, M.D 2016 Cheryl Wooten
2015 Karen & Steve Wickham 2014 Bonnie Crews
2013 Reverend Sheldon Livesay and
the 'Of One Accord Ministry'		 2012 East TN State University's Rural Inter
professional Rural Community Assessment
and Project Courses
 2011 Sara Smith, TN Department of Education  


Al Grant Award

2022 Dr. Barbara Levin 2018 Dr. Sajeesh Kumar
2016 Dennis Wolford  2015 Pete DeBusk
 

                           

 


Bill Moats Meritorious Service Award 

2022 Deborah Chumley and Alicia Metcalf 2021 Dr. Angie Dotson
2019 Bill Dobbins 2018 Mary Vance
2017 Bill Moats  
 

Collaboration Award

2022 Premier Primary Care, UTHSC College of Nursing, Alcoa City Schools and TCAT Knoxville
 2021 Dr. Claude Pirtle; Trousdale County Health Council 2018 TN State Office of Rural Health Team
2017 Kathy Ann Watson, BSN, RN 2016 TN's CSH Initiative, TN Department of Education 2015 South Cumberland Health Network
 2014 Obion County Hometown Walk of Hope/Obion
County Cancer Agency in Union City		    


Eloise Q. Hatmaker Distinguished Service Award

2022 Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development

 2021 Ruby Kirby
2019 Carolyn Sliger 2018 Angie Allen
2015 Mary Vance  2013 Cindy Siler
  


Exemplary Project Award

2022 Volunteer Behavioral Health Systems Co-Responder Program

 2021 Tennessee Health Care Campaign; Buffalo Valley and McNabb Center

2019 The Kenley Project, LMU-DCOM

 2018 Maury Regional Medical Center &
Lewis Health Center
2017 Dolly Parton/Dollywood Feed my People Fund 2014 Tennessee Emergency Medical
Services for Children
2013 Mary Jane Dewey, Thoris Campbell,
Ciara Gordon for "Ask Me", "Teal for Two" and "Manicure for the Cure"		 2012 Southwest Area Agency on Aging
and Disability: Connected Transitions &
Trousdale County Health Council- Teen Time:
Tools & Ties/Petals & Pearls & Jefferson County Health Council's SEED Project
2011 Tasty Tuesday   

 

Jerry McEwen Hero Award

2022 Dr. Lawrence Jackson  2017 Heather & Sonny Melton
 2012 Cindy Johnson 2011 Jesse King
   


Practitioner of the Year Award

2022 Amy Smith, PA  2021 Dr. Dee Blakney
2018 Dr. Jose Velasco 2017 Robert H. Lee, M.D.
2016 Dr. Charles Alderson 2015 Dr. Jim Shine
 2014 Sullivan Smith MD 2013 Hanna Ilia, MD
 2012 Dr. P. William Dysinger  


Rural Health Professional of the Year

2022 Dr. Jana Dreyzehner 2021 Dr. Richard Wallace
2019 Joe Florence, MD 2017 Mark Dalle-Ave, MD
2015 Tonya Garner 2012 Gerald Bowker
2011 Shelia Garvin Bates  

 

 

Rural Legislator of the Year Award   

2022 State Senator London Lamar and Congressman Mark Green

 2019 State Senator Becky Massey
2018 State Senator Bo Watson 2017 State Senator Ken Yager
2016 State Representative Matthew Hill 2015 State Representative Steve McDaniel
2014 State Senator Doub Overby 2013 State Representative Kelly Keisling
2012 State Representative Mike Harrison  

 

President’s Award

2021 Elaine Jackson 2020, Dana Cobb, Bill Jolley (presented at 2021 Conference)
2019 Julie Clyce, Cathy Dyer, & Angie Dotson 2017 Bill Jolley, Angie Britt & Elaine Jackson
2016 Bill Jolley & Walter Fletcher 2015 Angie Dotson,  Elaine Jackson & Aaron Haynes
2014 Joellen Edwards, Bill Jolley,
Angie Dotson, Kathyrn Atwood & Jill Beason		 2013 Bill Moats, J. Mark Wilson & Cindy Siler
2012 Deborah Murph & Myrtle Russell  

 

Past award photos: