The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) 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.
Continuing education certificates are provided for social work, and community health workers.
The objectives of this conference include:
1. Provide an opportunity for rural health stakeholders to share and learn from each other.
2. Provide a networking and collaboration opportunity for rural health stakeholders.
3. Provide current and relevant information to rural health stakeholders
Save the Date for the 2025 Annual Rural Health Conference! - Registration Coming Soon!
Hotel Block Information
The MCRH room block is now available through Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort website. Additional information is attached below:
- Choose Book Now
- Group Code: MCRH042225
- Phone: (877) 232-4532
- Press Option #1 for reservations and referring to the group for Tuesday, April 22, 2025
- Address: 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd. Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
- Room Block open until Tuesday, April 1st
- When entering the group code, please use the drop-down option under PROMO code to select Group Code, and then enter MCRH042225.
- Please note that it may look as if you are not able to check out on Friday, due to the date having an X through it on the calendar, but you are able to.
2024 Rural Health Professional of the Year Winner
MCRH was honored to present the 2024 Rural Health Professional of the Year award to Laura Glenn, COO, of Munson Healthcare.
The award has been presented since 1994 to individuals deserving of recognition for their efforts in carrying out exemplary work in promoting health in rural areas, showing excellent leadership in the improvement of healthcare services to the rural areas of Michigan, and making worthy contributions to the improvement of health for the people in rural Michigan.
Laura was in London during the Awards Ceremony, having competed in the London Marathon, but did take the opportunity to put together an acceptance video, which can be found here.
Congratulations, Laura! Your passion and tireless dedication to improving rural health in Michigan are an inspiration!
Rural Health Professionals of Years Past
In Honor of Loren O. Gettel
Previous Award Winners:
2023 Mariah Hesse, CNO of Sparrow Clinton Hospital
2022 Emily Bergquist, MDHHS Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness & Sam Watson, Michigan Health & Hospital Association & Julie Novak, Michigan State Medical Society & Philip Bergquist, Michigan Primary Care Association & Keisha Sexton, Michigan Rural Health Clinic Network & Kris Nicholoff, Michigan Osteopathic Association & Norm Hess, Michigan Association of Local Public Health
2021- No Award
2020 Duke Anderson, President, CEO, Hillsdale Community Health Center
2019 Mark Hamed, MD, MBA, MPH, Medical Director of McKenzie Health System’s ED/Hospitalist program, Medical Director for Public Health in Sanilac, Tuscola, Huron and Lapeer counties
2018 Andrea Wendling, M.D., Director of Rural Community Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University
2017 John Barnas, Executive Director, Michigan Center for Rural Health
2016 Brian Brasser, President, Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals.
2015 Steve Barnett, President & CEO, McKenzie Health System
2014 Donna Kubic, Managing Director, Beaver Island Rural Health Clinic
2013 Colleen Johnson, Practice Administrator, Lakeshore Medical Centers