The following are awards distributed by the Mississippi Rural Health Association to deserving members.
2022 Award Recipients
We are pleased to present the 2022 Mississippi Rural Health Conference award recipients. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Hospital Quality Awards
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Booneville | Booneville | MS |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Calhoun | Calhoun City | MS |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Leake | Carthage | MS |
North Mississippi Medical Center – Eupora | Eupora | MS |
North Mississippi Medical Center – Iuka | Iuka | MS |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Attala | Kosciusko | MS |
Scott Regional Hospital | Morton | MS |
Neshoba County General Hospital | Philadelphia | MS |
North Mississippi Medical Center – Pontotoc | Pontotoc | MS |
H C Watkins Memorial Hospital | Quitman | MS |
Laird Hospital | Union | MS |
North Mississippi Medical Center – West Point | West Point | MS |
State Legislator of the Year
Sen. Ben Suber
National Legislator of the Year
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Paula Turner, MRHF
One Rural Award
Michael Nester
Community Star Award
Kina L. White, DrPH, MHSA, FACHE
2021 Award Recipients
We are pleased to present the 2021 Mississippi Rural Health Conference award recipients. Congratulations to all of our award winners!
Hospital Outcomes Awards |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Booneville |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union County |
Delta Health-Northwest Regional |
North Mississippi Medical Center |
North Sunflower Medical Center |
South Sunflower County Hospital |
Tippah County Hospital |
Hospital Quality Awards |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Attala |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Booneville |
Baptist Memorial Hospital – Calhoun |
North Mississippi Medical Center – Eupora |
Scott Regional Hospital |
Simpson General Hospital |
Tippah County Hospital |
State Legislator of the Year
Rep. Kevin Blackwell
National Legislator of the Year
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH
Community Star Award
Arletha Howard, DrPH, MSN, RN
2020 Awards
Hospital quality awards
- Baptist Memorial Hospital-Boonville
- North Mississippi Medical Center – Iuka
- North Mississippi Medical Center – Eupora
- Tallahatchie General Hospital
- North Mississippi Medical Center – Pontotoc
- Covington County Hospital
- H.C. Watkins Memorial Hospital Inc.
- Baptist Memorial Hospital – Calhoun
- John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital
State legislator of the year
Rep. Sam Mims
Mary Ann Sones award
Sharon Turcotte, MRHF
2019 Awards

National Legislator of the Year
Cindy Hyde-Smith
US Senate
State Legislator of the Year
Philip Gunn
Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives
Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Tim Thomas, MRHF
One Rural Award
Toby Butler
CAH Patient Perspective Award
- Mississippi Baptist Hospital – Leake
- Calhoun Hospital
- Field Health System
- Greene County Hospital
- Scott Regional Hospital
- Tallahatchie General Hospital
CAH Strength Index Award
- Attala County Hospital
- Franklin County Hospital
- Pontotoc Health System
PPS Patient Perspective Award
- Mississippi Baptist Hospital – Booneville
- Tishomingo General Hospital
PPS Strength Index Quality Award
- Tishomingo General Hospital
- Webster General Hospital
2018 Awards

Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Zach Allen, MRHF
National Legislator of the Year
US Representative Gregg Harper
State Legislator of the Year
Governor Phil Bryant
One Rural Award
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
PPS Hospital Strength Index Awards
Baptist Medical Center – Attala
Laird Hospital
North Mississippi Medical Center – Pontotoc
PPS Hospital Strength Index Awards
Beacham Memorial Hospital
George Regional Medical Center
Winston Medical Center
North Mississippi Medical Center – Eupora
North Mississippi Medical Center – Iuka
2017 Awards

Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Susan Campbell, MRHF, Rush Health Systems
National Legislator of the Year
US Senator Roger Wicker
State Legislator of the Year
Rep. Sam Mims
One Rural Award
Rep. Stacey Wilkes
Hospital Quality Award: HCAPHS (CAH Division)
- Laird Hospital
- Lawrence County Hospital
- North Sunflower Medical Center
Hospital Quality Award: HCAPHS (PPS Division)
- Tishomingo Health Services
- Winston Medical Center
- Beacham Memorial Hospital
Hospital Quality Award: IMM2
- Calhoun Health Services
- Baptist Medical Center – Attala
Hospital Quality Award: OP-27
- Holmes County Hospitals and Clinics
- Field Memorial Hospital
MS Rural Physician Scholars Poster Contest Winners
- First Place: Hannah Laird, Starkville
- Second Place: Alex Fratesi, Leland
- Third Place: Emilee Ann Boldon, Greenwood
2016 Awards

Mary Ann Sones Distinguished Leadership Award
Dr. Bonnie Carew, Mississippi State University (retired)
State Legislator of the Year
Senator Angela Hill
Senator Terry Burton
National Legislator of the Year
Congressman Gregg Harper
Special Award to Governor Phil Bryant for his dedication to rural health
Overall Critical Access Hospital Strength Index Award
- Calhoun Health Services, Calhoun City
- Greene County Hospital, Leakesville
- Perry County General Hospital, Richton
Critical Access Hospital Strength Index Quality Award
- Perry County General Hospital, Richton
- Calhoun Health Services, Calhoun City
- Field Memorial Community Hospital, Centerville
Overall PPS Hospital Strength Index Award
- George Regional Health System, Lucedale
- Tishomingo Health Services, Iuka, MS
- Winston Medical Center, Louisville, MS
PPS Hospital Strength Index Quality Award
- Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital, Rolling Fork
- Webster General Hospital, Eupora, MS
- Winston Medical Center, Louisville, MS
Rural Health Clinic Quality Award
- Pinnacle Medical Clinic, Summit
- Indianola Family Medical Group, Indianola
- Merit Health Pediatrics, Batesville
- Tri-Lakes Merit Health Women’s Clinic, Batesville
- KDMC Medical Clinic, Brookhaven
- KDMC Specialty Clinic, Brookhaven
- Greenwood Leflore After-Hours Clinic, Greenwood
- Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi, Hattiesburg
- Lexington Primary Care Clinic, Lexington
- Macon Medical Clinic, Macon
- Macon Primary Care Clinic, Macon
- East Mississippi Medical Clinic, Meridian
- Fairchild-Clearman Medical Associates, Philadelphia
- Neshoba Internal Medicine Associates, Philadelphia
- Neshoba Medical Pavilion, Philadelphia
- Neshoba Urgent Care , Philadelphia
- Waynesboro Family Medicine and Obstetrics, Waynesboro
- Arthur E. Wood Medical Clinic, Waynesboro
- Primary Healthcare, Forest
- Clark Medical Clinic
- Rush Family Practice, Lake
- The Medical Group of Quitman
- Central Mississippi Family Healthcare
- North Hills Family Medical Clinic
- Rush Medical Clinic, Philadelphia
- Newton Family Medical Associates
- Family Medical Group of Union
- Decatur Family Medical Clinic
- Rush Medical Clinic Dekalb
- Marion Primary Care Center
- Primary Care Associates
- Immediate Care Family Clinic
- Rush Medical Clinic Preston
- Rush Medical Clinic Collinsville
- Family Medical Clinic
- Rush Medical Group Primary Care
- Children’s International Medical Group