NERHA Conference Awards & Nomination Form

Submit a Nomination

NERHA 2026 Conference Awards

Each year, the New England Rural Health Association strives to recognize individuals who are making a meaningful impact across rural health in our region. These awards celebrate leadership, innovation, and dedication to improving the health and well-being of rural communities.

We invite you to submit nominations for the following three award categories:

  • Recognizes an emerging leader in rural health who has demonstrated exceptional promise, innovation, and impact early in their career.

    Eligibility:

    • Early to mid-career professional (typically within first 10 years)

    • Demonstrated commitment to rural health

    • Evidence of innovation, leadership, or measurable impact

  • Honors a student who is actively engaged in rural health and shows strong potential for future leadership in the field.

    Eligibility:

    • Currently enrolled student (undergraduate or graduate)

    • Demonstrated interest or involvement in rural health

    • Leadership, service, or research contributions

  • Celebrates an individual whose career has significantly advanced rural health through sustained leadership, service, and impact.

    Eligibility:

    • Extensive career in rural health or related field

    • Demonstrated long-term impact at community, regional, or national level

    • Recognized leader, mentor, or advocate

Submission Details

  • Deadline: August 1st, 2026

  • Award recipients will be recognized at the NERHA Annual Conference (November 17–18, 2026 | Concord, NH) and will receive complimentary attendance for the day of the awards ceremony.

  • Either the nominee or nominator must be a NERHA member.

Submit a Nomination

Help us celebrate the individuals shaping the future of rural health.

2025 New England Rural Health Association Award Recipients

RURAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS

Linda Cragin, MS

Director

MassAHEC

&

Suzanne Cashman, DSc

Professor Emeritus

UMass Chan Medical School

RISING RURAL STAR WINNER

Micaela Maynard, M.Ed

Maine CUP AHEC Scholars Manager

Area Health Education Center

RURAL STUDENT LEADER WINNER

Eashwar Krishna

Student & Rural Health Research Assistant

University of Connecticut

Linda was the former MassAHEC director and has served nationally on the National AHEC Organization Board of Directors. 

&

Suzanne Cashman, ScD, MS, is a Professor and Director of Community Health in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMass Chan Medical School. She specializes in public health, community-based evaluation research, and interprofessional education, with a focus on developing community-academic partnerships.

Micaela Maynard is a member of the Maine AHEC team and works as the Program Manager for the CUP AHEC Scholars program. Before joining UNE, Micaela worked at DePaul University where she developed community-based service learning courses in collaboration with partners across Chicago's rich and diverse neighborhoods. Micaela currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Rural Health Association.

Eashwar is a senior pursuing dual degrees in Sociology as well as Molecular & Cell Biology, with a minor in Physiology. His research focuses on quantitative analysis of rural health disparities, particularly the intersection of geography and other social determinants of health. He aims to attend medical school after finishing his undergraduate education.