2025 NYSARH Awards

2025 Rural Health Awards Ceremony

Award Categories

Dr. Gary Ogden Rural Health Practitioner of the Year Award

The recipient of this award must be a direct service provider who has demonstrated leadership in bringing health services to citizens of rural New York.

This award was renamed in honor of Dr. Gary Ogden, who passed away early in January of 2007. Candidates for this award should exhibit the same qualities we witnessed in Gary; a passion for life, selfless dedication to their community, organization, and especially, their patients; a strong sense of truth, and the conviction, belief, and action to make dreams a reality.

Senator Patricia M. McGee Award

Formerly the Award of Merit, the Senator Patricia M. McGee Rural Health Worker is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution of major significance to improve the health of rural populations. This Award was renamed the Senator McGee Award in recognition of the late Senator’s unyielding commitment to improving rural residents’ quality of life through legislation which will have a positive impact for many years to come. Her willingness to listen and respond to constituents from her own district, and throughout NYS, including NYSARH events, was greatly appreciated. Consideration is given to all areas of health. Nomination information should indicate that the individual’s efforts have gone beyond what is normally expected and are exemplary of dedication to the advancement of the health of the public.

Outstanding Rural Health Program

This award recognizes a community-wide, regional or statewide program involving one or more health care professionals, or entities that promote or facilitate the development of the rural health care delivery system.