MSDH Celebrates Rural Health Day

Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is proud to celebrate the vital contributions of healthcare providers, professionals and community workers on National Rural Health Day (NRHD), which falls on November 20 this year.

MSDH created the Mississippi Center for Rural Health and Population Studies in 2024 to focus on the issues affecting rural areas of the state. The Center helps rural communities build productive health care delivery systems, support rural health clinics, and place primary care providers in rural Mississippi.

In conjunction with NRHD, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) each year recognizes outstanding contributions to rural care through its Community Star Recognition program. This year's local Community Star is the Mississippi Access Group Network-Health Center Controlled Network (MAGnet-HCCN), a state-chartered corporation that consists of five community health centers serving 24 counties. MAGnet-HCCN, which embodies the Power of Rural by driving innovation, equity and sustainability in care delivery, will be featured prominently on the NRHD website, PowerOfRural.org, alongside other Community Stars from across the nation. The organization was also honored by the Office of Rural Health during their Rural Health Day Celebration on November 17.

“In Mississippi, 65 out of 82 counties are considered rural,” said Dr. Jennifer Gholson, Director of the MSDH Center for Rural Health and Population Studies. “Rural providers are the backbone of healthcare in Mississippi. On Rural Health Day, we are honoring everyone, from the physicians to the hospital's cleaning crew, who work tirelessly to improve the health of rural residents of Mississippi.”

National Rural Health Day is recognized on the third Thursday of November each year to honor the selfless, community-minded, and determined individuals and organizations that serve the health needs of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.