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. 

2025 Nominations are not open yet! Check back in March!

 

 

Past Award Recipients

Award of Merit

2023 Leslie Brasfield & Michael Meit 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

2024 Bill Jolley 2023 Dr. David Reagan
2022 Dr. Barbara Levin  2018 Dr. Sajeesh Kumar
2016 Dennis Wolford  2015 Pete DeBusk
 

                           

 


Bill Moats Meritorious Service Award 

2024 Mike Leventhal 2023 Wilma Jean Pippenger
2022 Deborah Chumley and Alicia Metcalf 2021 Dr. Angie Dotson
2019 Bill Dobbins 2018 Mary Vance
2017 Bill Moats  
 

Collaboration Award

2024 BlueCare, Wellpoint, and UnitedHealthcare
2023 Chrystal Taylor & Dr. Simpfronia Taylor 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

 

Connie Givens School Health Award

2023 Lori Paisley 


Eloise Q. Hatmaker Distinguished Service Award

2024 Bill Dobbins

2023 Ann Cranford
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

2024 Johnathan Greene & Steve Parker

2023 Dr. Sherry Jimenez & SARRT

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   

 

Practitioner of the Year Award

2024 Diana Dedmon, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AFN-C 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 Hero Award

2024 Walter Fletcher, MD 2023 MAT Program
2022 Dr. Lawrence Jackson 2017 Heather & Sonny Melton
 2012 Cindy Johnson  2011 Jesse King

 


Rural Health Professional of the Year

2024 JW Randolph, Deputy Commisioner 2023 David Dill
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   

2023 State Representative Clay Doggett

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

 

Advocate of the Year 

2024 Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth 2023 Chrissy Hood 

 

President’s Award

  2024 Cynthia Chafin, Ph.D., MCHES®, NBC-HWC
2023 Allie Haynes & Anna Hurt 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: