Alabama Rural Health Association Adds‍ new Board Members

⁣ ‍ ⁣Updated May ⁣30,‍ 2025
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The Alabama Rural health association (ARHA) has welcomed Dawna⁤ Nelson, Ph.D., and Melanie ⁣Baucom, DNP, CRNP, to its board.‍ The induction ⁢took place at⁢ the ARHA’s 2023 Annual conference in Hoover.

Nelson, an ‍Alabama State University alumna and faculty⁤ member, is a research fellow with the Alabama Commission ⁣of Higher Education (ACHE). ⁢Her work centers on rural healthcare workforce development. She also facilitated ARHA’s Rural roadshow in⁣ Montgomery. Nelson’s experience within the Black community and her work with marginalized populations⁣ will support ARHA’s commitment ⁢to reducing healthcare⁢ disparities and promoting health equity in rural Alabama.

Baucom is‍ a ‍family nurse practitioner providing⁤ primary care to underserved rural patients for over a decade. At the UAB School of Nursing,she leads an initiative mentoring ⁢nurse practitioner students dedicated to rural service. To date, ⁣the programme has ‍graduated over 100⁢ primary care nurse practitioners prepared to serve rural Alabama. Baucom aims to ⁣foster partnerships and advance ARHA’s mission of advocating for rural health ⁤issues in Alabama.

Nelson and Baucom⁤ succeed Amelia⁢ de los⁤ Reyes, of the University of⁣ Alabama, and Susan Campbell, of Rush Health Systems, whose terms have expired.

What’s next

The ARHA, with its newly appointed board members, is expected to enhance its⁣ initiatives aimed at⁤ improving healthcare access and equity in ‍rural ‍communities⁣ across⁣ Alabama.