On December 11, 2007, the National Rural Health Association selected Assistant Professor Lynda Bergsma of the MEZCOPH Rural Health Office to be a 2008 Rural Health Fellow.    After the completion of a competitive review process, twelve fellows were selected nationally to participate in this year-long, intensive program aimed at developing leaders who can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America. 

“We are very pleased to announce this new class of fellows as this program enters its second year.  Once again, this class represents various levels of rural healthcare expertise,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of NRHA.  “We look forward to continuing the tradition of building rural healthcare leaders.”  Fellows will gain valuable insights and build critical skills in three primary domains:

• Personal, team and organizational leadership;
• Health policy analysis and advocacy; and
• National Rural Health Association governance and structure.

The twelve fellows represent many different states across the United States; Dr. Bergsma is the only fellow selected from Arizona and the Southwest.

Additional Information:

1. Home page for the MEZCOPH Rural Health Office:  http://www.rho.arizona.edu/

2.  NRHA home page:  http://www.nrharural.org.  

3.  Rural health care issues are discussed in “What’s Different About Rural Health Care?” on the NRHA web page at:

http://www.nrharural.org/about/sub/different.html.