UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During November, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health presented six awards to honor organizations and individuals who took leadership roles in advancing rural health causes. The awards were presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, in honor of National Rural Health Day, Nov. 17, and Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. 

Rural Health Hero of the Year Award

Glenn Sterner, doctorate, of Penn State Abington, received the 2022 Rural Health Hero of the Year Award on Nov. 14. The award recognizes an outstanding leader who demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to the rural health needs of their community, works with relevant organizations to develop or expand a program that addresses an identified need, and goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Sterner was lauded for his leadership and coordination between organizations across the state. In addition to being a champion and advocate for rural communities, his work on substance use, human trafficking, and various health conditions have had meaningful impacts on rural residents of Pennsylvania.

He uses an innovative approach to address multiple issues, secure funding, and has worked in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies to deploy resources. Sterner is an influential advocate in multiple areas and consistently demonstrates his recognition of rural health issues across Pennsylvania. In his current work, he is evaluating the impact of opioid settlement funding in Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on long-term stakeholder engagement for maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funding in Pennsylvania’s communities.

Sterner founded the nonprofit organization Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative Working to Address Human Trafficking. He also serves on an interdisciplinary team to increase access to prevention programming in rural counties through the Penn State PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience program, emphasizing connections between prevention and supply reduction initiatives in communities. Sterner developed the Story Powered Initiative to address stigma in communities for conditions that are discriminated against, including substance use, human trafficking, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. 

Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award

The 2022 Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award was presented on Nov. 15 to Sen. Elder Vogel Jr., who serves the 47th District of Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. The Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding legislator from Pennsylvania for their work and support of rural health initiatives that address an identified need in their district or across the state.

Vogel was honored for recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of the agricultural community and bringing statewide and community attention to this important issue. As a fourth-generation farmer, Vogel is abundantly aware of the significance of this issue and the missed cries for help. He continues to discuss, share helpful resources, and advocate for the farming community. Vogel is also a compelling advocate of telemedicine for agricultural and rural communities. He sponsored legislation that has defined telemedicine and provided opportunities for rural areas to receive specialized care, including mental health services, without traveling outside the community. 

State Rural Health Leader of the Year Award

The 2022 State Rural Health Leader of the Year Award was presented to Denny Hutchison, membership chair and past president of the Somerset County Farm Bureau, and member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Agricultural Promotion Committee, from Somerset County, on Nov. 15. This award distinguishes an outstanding leader who organized, led, developed or expanded an exemplary multi-dimensional state rural health program or initiative that benefits rural Pennsylvania.

Hutchison was credited for his superb community outreach and statewide call for support of mental health needs in local agricultural communities. Hutchison was lauded for his assistance in developing a crisis line and underwriting training that focuses on learning about the stressors in the agricultural community, recognizing and helping someone in crisis, and developing mechanisms to mitigate the stress.

During COVID-19, Hutchison raised awareness in the farming community in Somerset County, discussing rural stress and the mental burden on farmers and their families. He reached out to veterinarians, feed and equipment dealers, and others who interact with farmers to alert them to warning signs of stress and depression. He is currently working with the PFB to raise awareness and make treatment more accessible for Pennsylvania’s farmers.

Hutchison also serves as treasurer and executive board member of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, as a board member of the United Way of Laurel Highlands, and is a member of the Paint Township Planning Committee.  

Rural Health Leader of the Year Award

The 2022 Rural Health Leader of the Year Award was presented on Nov. 17 to Norma Nocilla, director of clinical operations and quality at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, in Honesdale. The Rural Health Leader of the Year Award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community utilizing unique, creative, and innovative approaches to do so.

Nocilla was recognized for her extensive background in health care leadership, quality, and performance improvement. She has held various roles that provided her not only with insight into the needs of her community, but state and national issues as well. Nocilla maintained oversight of the clinical integration of four large practice groups across eight sites and 17 providers, earning primary care medical home certification of all sites, which places patients at the center of care and builds meaningful relationships between patients and clinical care teams. She shows concern and recognition for her colleagues and acknowledges the influential role they play in helping WMCHC provide exceptional services to the counties and organizations served by the health center. 

Rural Health Program of the Year Award

East Lycoming Ambulance Association is one of the 2022 recipients of the Rural Health Program of the Year Award, presented on Nov. 17 in Hughesville. The Rural Health Program of the Year Award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community utilizing unique, creative, and innovative approaches to do so.

ELAA was honored for the cooperative effort between four volunteer fire departments that have been operating for over 20 years. The fire companies staff a Basic Life Support ambulance seven days a week with paid Emergency Medical Technicians which is responsible for covering 911 emergency medical calls and vehicle accidents for 10 municipalities in rural Pennsylvania.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this organization has been providing significant services for the area as the number of calls has greatly increased. Without these companies providing the services, many of those call would have gone unanswered. The ELAA is comprised of Hughesville Volunteer Fire Company, Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Company, Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Company, and Muncy Township Volunteer Fire Company. The association is completely funded by the four fire companies which underwrite the EMT wages, and provide the equipment and the building for necessary service to rural Pennsylvania. 

Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania and the organization’s Women, Infant, and Children Tapestry of Health SUN Smiles program also received the 2022 Rural Health Program of the Year Award, presented on Nov. 17 in Shamokin Dam. SUN Smiles were lauded for developing a comprehensive program that formed partnerships between FHCCP, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Snyder-Union Community Action Agency, and the Susquehanna River Valley Dental Health Clinic.

The program was created to improve oral health outcomes for economically marginalized clients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC clients in Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties. All pregnant and postpartum women and children who are clients of WIC are routinely screened for dental needs and referred to Community Health Workers, as needed, for assistance with Medicaid enrollment, appointment scheduling, transportation, payment for services, and more.

In the first 11 months of the program, SUN Smiles screened 2,028 WIC clients and referred 700 clients to CHWs and 400 clients to dental care; 154 program clients received dental services at FHCCP’s partner dental provider site. In addition to care navigation, oral health education and fluoride varnish days at WIC offices are key elements of the program. 

About the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health 

PORH formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.  

PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.

Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.