NCHN announced the Annual Award recipients during the 5^th Annual National Cooperative of Health Networks Awards Luncheon held on Wednesday, April 17th, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Award categories include New and Emerging Network Leader of the Year, Outstanding Network Leader of the Year, Outstanding Health Network of the Year, and Friend of the Association. The National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN) is a membership organization comprised of health network leaders from throughout the nation. Annual award winners are nominated by their peers and are selected by the Awards Committee, which is comprised of previous award winners.

Cassalyn David, Outstanding New and Emerging Health Network Leader of 2013

The Outstanding New & Emerging Network Leader Award recognizes extraordinary leadership activities demonstrated by a new network leader/director in the field of health networks (network leader less than five years).

Cassalyn David is the Network Director for the Santa Cruz County Adolescent Wellness Network. Located on the US-Mexico borderlands of Southern Arizona, the network promotes collaboration to enhance adolescent services. Since 2007 partner organizations have been bringing together schools and community resources to understand and address adolescent wellness issues. The members are Mariposa Community Health Center, Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center, Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools, and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension-Santa Cruz County.

In her nine months as the Network Director, Cassalyn is particularly proud of the unique activities that have received great responses. To support the creation of school-based health care, the network invited school district administrators on a site visit to school wellness centers in a nearby town. It speaks highly of the network's reputation that these busy administrators joined in, hit the road, brought their questions, and subsequently expressed enthusiastic support for school wellness in their districts. Health care for adolescents can be a complicated topic, financially and politically, so Cassalyn is working with the network to build support among key stakeholders and emphasize shared values and goals. This means drawing on nationwide resources, connecting with centers in neighboring communities, and building a strong case for health care in schools.

"It is valuable in this rural area to have a network dedicated to assessing and assuring the needs of our youth are met," David said. SCCAWN connects the county to state and national resources and opportunities, helps members sustain their commitment to provide youth services, and is dedicated to addressing social determinants of health. The network provides opportunities for local teachers and service providers to receive training and continuing education, serves as hub of information on adolescent wellness issues, promotes healthy environments and policies for adolescent development, and fosters youth leadership opportunities. In the last nine months, David has been working to ensure the network's long-term sustainability, including recruiting new members and diversifying funding sources.

Carolyn Witherspoon, Outstanding Health Network Leader of 2013

The Outstanding Network Leader of the Year Award recognizes a network leader/director for leadership in managing a successful health network organization.

In March of 1998, Carolyn Witherspoon began employment with the Coalition of Health Services (COHS) as Quality Assurance Director. Just two years later, she was appointed as the Executive Director following a six month term as Interim Director. Prior to working with COHS, she worked as staff nurse, nursing supervisor and in director positions primarily in rural hospital settings. Carolyn Witherspoon has a passion for rural communities and a strong will to improve health care for residents of the Texas Panhandle. She promotes linking healthcare providers, facilities and suppliers of products to enhance care and is knowledgeable of community needs and the value of partnering and collaboration with all involved in the healthcare industry.

The Coalition of Health Services, Inc. is a 501c3 not for profit organized in 1996. The Board consists of CEO's or their designees representing 2 tertiary for profit hospitals in Amarillo, Texas and 12 rural hospitals (9 of which are critical access) in the Texas Panhandle. The purpose of the Coalition is to enhance rural health through coordinated and collaborative efforts of the member rural health care facilities, their partners and to support ongoing rural health initiatives in individual communities. These entities serve over 450,000 people living over a sparsely populated 26,000 square miles. The Coalition contracts with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Department of Health and Human Resources to administer funds to providers throughout a 33 county area. The Coalition has been involved with numerous grant funded projects since their inception and has received funding from local foundations to support development of these projects. In addition, COHS partners with other state and local community-based organizations to provide information and education throughout the Panhandle region for such programs as Medicaid, CHIP, Women's Health, Long Term Care and the Benefit Bank of Texas to name just a few.

Carolyn has served on the NCHN Board of Directors for seven years, including a one year term as NCHN President from 2011 through 2012. "Carolyn's service to NCHN and its members has been a tremendous asset," said Rebecca J. Davis, NCHN's Executive Director. "Her combination of direct experience in rural healthcare delivery and her ability to do so much, and cover such a large service area, with limited financial backing, make her an exemplary leader and a prime example of the efficiency that health networks nationwide seek to achieve. Her peers across the country recognized her leadership with this award."

In addition to serving on the NCHN Board, she recently completed her service as a board member for the Hope and Healing Place, and is currently serving on the Boards of Harrington Regional Medical Center, Panhandle Area Health Education Center, Amarillo Area Breast Health Coalition, Texas Panhandle Coalition for Nursing, Regence Health Network, Benefit Bank of Texas Regional Advisory Council, West Texas Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center Advisory Council and Advisory Boards for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at West Texas A&M University and Amarillo College School of Nursing.

Southwest Idaho Community Health Network, Outstanding Health Network of 2013

The Outstanding Health Network of the Year Award recognizes any network or entire network organization that has improved access to health services in its service area and coordination of resources for network members through innovative, comprehensive approaches.

The Southwest Idaho Community Health Network was established in 1998 and has twelve member hospitals. Nine of the hospitals are Critical Access Hospitals, one is a Rehab Hospital and two are regional tertiary hospitals. SWICHN's mission is to be a forum for healthcare professionals to educate, innovate, network and collaborate for improved healthcare delivery among its members. Steve Stoddard, Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the network.

For nearly fifteen years, SWICHN has provided valuable benefits to its members. The network has been successful in creating and maintaining eight active Peer Network Committees, saving the member hospitals millions of dollars each year through group purchase contracts and providing valuable education programs on achieving meaningful use and ICD-10 preparation. Each year, the hospital board members, executive teams and physician leaders enjoy the SWICHN Board and Leadership Conference. During this event, the attendees receive quality hospital board education, the SWICHN Value Report and opportunities to network. SWICHN's most recent project was the establishment of a tele-pharmacy service to help its rural hospitals improve their quality of care through an affordable model.

"The Southwest Idaho Community Health Network has been an active member of NCHN for several years. This morning, Stephen Stoddard, Executive Director of the network, was elected to his second three-year term as a Director of NCHN," said Rebecca J. Davis, NCHN's Executive Director. "Stephen serves on the NCHN Business Partner Committee and has chaired the RHNR Consulting Group Task Force since its inception. This past year, he stepped up to serve as Secretary of NCHN, when our secretary resigned. His leadership skills and management of the network are recognized by his peers with this award," stated Dr. Davis.

SWICHN has established some valuable partnerships with The Hospital Cooperative and the North Idaho Rural Health Consortium for some of its group purchasing contracts and education programs. Steve Stoddard, the SWICHN Executive Director is pleased with his network's success and grateful for the education, contacts and opportunities he's received through NCHN.

Ron and Ruth Anne Wheeler, 2013 Friends of NCHN

The Friend of NCHN Award is given to recognize a program, institution, agency, or individual that has advocated for or provided extraordinary support to the Association.

Anyone who has attended the NCHN Conference for the past 5 years recognize Ron and Ruth Anne Wheeler, the smiling faces at the registration desk and the competent handlers of all conference AV needs. They are always happy and willing to help in any way that they can before, during, and after the conference. In addition to handling the AV and registration desk, they are active bluegrass enthusiasts, musicians, and they are involved in numerous community projects. In their spare time, they enjoy their 3 grandsons and their granddaughter.