Contact information:
NRHA Rural Hospital Certification Programs
Sydney Grant, director of programming
813.810.7435
sgrant@nrhasc.com
Inaugural cohort for NRHA’s Rural Health Nurse Certification
Program launches
[Kansas City, Mo.] – The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Rural Health
Nurse Certification Program launched its first cohort in May 2023.
Rural nurses are skilled at knowing a little bit about everything and balancing the needs
of their patients with the often limited resources in small and sometimes isolated parts of
the country. Rural nursing is its own specialty, and that realization led to the
development of the first-ever rural nurse certification program.
NRHA’s Rural Health Leadership Education Foundation exists to fund programs that
nurture current and future leaders. The May 2023 cohort consists of the following
participants:
• Amanda Lary - CHI Missouri Valley, Missouri Valley, Iowa
• Amber Rollins - Medical Center of South Arkansas, El Dorado, Ark.
• Andrea Sperr - Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, Wheaton, Minn.
• Ashley Blackburn - Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw, N.C.
• Britney Garber - Eastland Memorial Hospital, Eastland, Texas
• Christina Woerdehoff - St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Carroll, Iowa
• Christy Phillips - Coulee Medical Center, Grand Coulee, Wash.
• Elizabeth Craig - Eastland Memorial Hospital, Eastland, Texas
• Heather Biddix - Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw, N.C.
• Jacey Schwarz - Merrick Medical Center, Central City, Neb.
• Janelle Johnson - Glasgow Clinic, Glasglow, Mont.
• Jeff Olsen - Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, Wheaton, Minn.
• Jenna Gahlon - Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, Wheaton, Minn.
• Jennifer Dreher - UKHS Care Collaborative, Hays, Kan.
• Keli Cuenca - Cleveland Area Hospital, Cleveland, Okla.
• Krisha Cassady - Cleveland Area Hospital, Cleveland, Okla.
• Kristi Sheridan - Klickitat Valley Health, Goldendale, Wash.
• Lisa Wiese - Florida Atlantic University, Lake Okeechobee, Fla.
• Mary Isaacson - South Dakota State University, Rapid City, S.D.
• Meagan Jones - Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw, N.C.
• Melissa Broman - Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw, N.C.
• Melynda Hutchings - University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas
• Mia Leonard - Ascension St. Vincent Salem, Salem, Ind.
• Michelle Baney - Dundy County Hospital, Benkelman, Neb.
• Michelle Berning - Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, Wheaton, Minn.
• Paula Smith - Ascension St. Vincent, Salem, Ind.
• Renee Carpenter - Quality Healthcare Clinic, Benkelman, Neb.
• Robin Tice - Eastland Memorial Hospital, Eastland, Okla.
• Sacha Pogue - Coquille Valley Hospital, Coquille, Ore.
• Sarah Greiner - Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield, Iowa
• Sheila Frye - Cleveland Area Hospital, Cleveland, Okla.
• Shelly Wallace - Dundy County Hospital, Benkelman, Neb.
• Stacy Vinson - Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw, N.C.
• Wendy-Jo Berube - Millinocket Regional Hospital, Millinocket, Maine
• Whitney Larson - Sanford Jackson Medical Center, Jackson, Minn.
About NRHA’s Rural Health Nurse Certification Program: This multifaceted course
is designed to equip rural nurses with information, resources, and a network of
colleagues to help them provide high-quality care in rural settings while recognizing and
celebrating their vast skillsets.
To learn more about all available programs, visit www.crhleadership.com
