Welcome to RHAO Online!

It is an honor to be serving as the President of the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma (RHAO) for the next two years and will do my best to be an advocate to improve rural health. It is during these very tough and trying economic times that Oklahoma tends to join together to be of assistance to each other. Now it will be more important than ever to work toward the common goal of improving healthcare for rural Oklahomans, as the state budget deficits we are faced with could severely limit our ability to provide care to the low income and uninsured population.
      

The mission of RHAO, “Serving as a united voice for Oklahomans in the promotion of rural health issues, through advocacy, education and leadership” will guide the board through a variety of planned events. Quarterly we hold rural health roundtable discussions and reach out to the four corners of the state to gather information about what topics are important to the rural citizens of Oklahoma. RHAO sponsors an annual conference, the theme of the 2010 conference was “Healthcare Reform and Rural Oklahoma” where we heard keynote speaker, Maggie Elehwany, National Rural Health Association V.P. for Government Affairs, and Oklahoma Legislative Update by Senator Patrick Anderson as well as many good plenary sessions.  Awards honoring ten Oklahomans for their outstanding dedication to rural health, including state legislators, hospital administrator, physician and program of the year were presented at the conclusion of the conference. 
    

It is with great pride that I will work with the board to provide leadership to move this organization forward for the voice of rural Oklahoma.

Shelly Dunham