Michigan Rural Health Conference
The Michigan Center for Rural Health has hosted the Michigan Rural Health Conference since 1997. The conference is of interest to a broad range of rural stakeholders and aims to provide engaging education on relevant topics for rural health providers. The conference is targeted towards those working in rural health, including rural health clinics and hospital settings. In addition, the conference also targets individuals and organizations from local public health, community mental health, substance use disorder treatment centers, and those working to positively impact social drivers of health.
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2026 Rural Health Professional of the Year
Billi Jo Hennika, Chief Operating Officer at McKenzie Health System, was honored as the 2026 Rural Health Professional of the Year during the luncheon ceremony at the 29th Annual Michigan Rural Health Conference. Over the past several years, Billi Jo has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care delivery in Sanilac County. She was instrumental in the design, development, and promotion of the new McKenzie Hospital, currently under construction and scheduled to open next year. This transformative investment will help secure long-term access to care in the region, with a facility designed to meet the evolving needs of both patients and clinicians.
Rural Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Summit
The Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC), a program of MCRH, hosts its annual summit to unite rural partners across Michigan in addressing substance use. The event features panel discussions, voices of lived experience, and opportunities to share best practices in prevention, treatment, recovery, and workforce development.
2025 Rural Recovery Hero Award
During the Rural Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Summit, Madeleine McConnell, CEO of Sunrise Centre, was recognized as the 2025 Rural Recovery Hero of the Year for her exceptional leadership and advocacy in advancing recovery services across northern Michigan. Known for expanding access to treatment, strengthening partnerships, and championing person-centered care, Madeleine has led impactful efforts including expanding MAT services, launching the Family Recovery Care Team, integrating peer recovery coaches across multiple settings, and guiding Sunrise Centre through significant growth. Her work continues to transform recovery support for rural communities across the region.
Michigan Critical Access Hospital Conference
MCRH hosts the annual Critical Access Hospital Conference to bring together CAH leaders from across the state. This event is invite-only and provides a platform to share best practices, explore innovative strategies, and strengthen Michigan’s CAH community through collaboration and education.
MCRH supports Michigan’s Critical Access Hospitals through the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (FLEX Program). FLEX helps strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure by focusing on quality reporting and improvement, financial and operational performance, emergency medical service integration, and population health management.
The CAH Conference is specifically designed for hospital leaders, including CEOs, CFOs, CNOs, and Directors of Patient Safety and Quality, to engage in peer-to-peer learning, build connections, and exchange strategies that improve the sustainability and performance of rural hospitals.
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Questions? Contact:
Michigan Center for Rural Health
Administrative Assistant
517.355.7979
com.mcrhaa@msu.edu