About UsThe New England Rural Health Association was established in 1997 with funding from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). The Association serves as the rural health association for the six New England states. We are a non-profit, membership-driven organization that serves as a regional rural health advocate. Headquartered in Maine, the Association is governed by a Board of Directors and administered by an Executive Director. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of communities throughout rural New England. Our vision is that the Association serves as the forum for promoting healthy rural communities and solutions to the unique health challenges facing rural New England. Our Objectives are to:
Our organization includes hundreds of members from across the region who are also committed to improving the health and well-being of our rural communities. Together, our board members and executive director work hard on behalf of our members to advance the work of the New England Rural Health Association and improve the health of rural New Englanders. If you need assistance, feel free to contact us with questions, suggestions, and concerns. We appreciate your input, and are always looking for new ways to help rural communities and organizations throughout New England. Our Bylaws can be read here.
Board of DirectorsLora Gerard - Dartmouth Centers for Health and Aging - VT - (President) Ann Turner, MS, RN, CCM, Clinical Director, Integrated Healthcare - NH - (President-Elect) Luca Fernandez, Vermont Department of Health Rural Health, Program Administrator - VT - (Secretary) Kirby Lecy - State Office of Rural Health - MA - (Treasurer) Jeffrey Waldron - MS, PA-C, Faculty, Franklin Pierce Masters PA Program - NH - (Member At Large) Gertrude O'Sullivan - Foundation for Community Health - CT - (Board) Lori Fedewa - CT Office of Rural Health - (Ex-Officio) Nicole Breton - Maine Rural Health and Primary Care - SORH - ME - (Ex-Officio) Kirby Lecy - MA SORH - MA - (Ex-Officio) Alisa Druzba - NH SORH - NH - (Ex-Officio) Margaret Gradie - RI Office of Rural Health and Primary Care - RI - (Ex-Officio) John Olson - VT SORH - VT - (Ex-Officio) Stephen Martin, MD, Director of the Rural Scholars Program, UMASS Medical School - MA - (Board) Jeffrey Dodge - Private Practice - RI - (Board) Michael Pancook, Maine Primary Care Association, CHCNet Program Coordinator - ME - (Board) Dr. Sue Woods, Physician iMAT Hub, Southern Maine Health Care, Course Development, Roux Institute/Northeastern University, & Adjunct Associate Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine - ME - (Board) Monica Blanchette, Burrillville Prevention Action Coalition, Substance Use Prevention Coordinator - RI - (Board) Read Allen, UMASS Medical School, Student - MA - (Board) Michael Hebert, MSW, MBA, Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, Executive Director - CT - (Board) Elizabeth Winterbauer, MPH, CPHQ, Vermont Analysis and Programming Services - VT - (Board)
Staff
 Andy Lowe Position: Executive Director Email: [email protected]
Phone: 207.828.5524 EXT#1
Andy Lowe comes to the New England Rural Health Association with five years’ experience as a member of the NERHA Board of Directors, of which he is a Past President. Before joining NERHA, Andy served as Chief Strategy Officer at Outer Cape Health Services, a community health center serving the rural Outer Cape Cod region. While there, Andy also served as Director of the Cape & Islands Area Health Education Center. Previous work includes positions at the University of Vermont, where he worked on community-based research programs for rural veterans, and the State of Vermont, where he served as Associate CIO in the Agency of Human Services. Andy holds a faculty appointment at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Andy and his wife Jayne, who met as undergraduates at Norwich University, live in rural Vermont. As a lifelong resident of rural New England who has lived in Vermont, Connecticut, and Cape Cod, Andy enjoys fishing, primitive arms hunting, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, gardening, boating, swimming, maple sugaring, cross country skiing, and anything else outdoors. A lifelong competitive endurance athlete, Andy has trained and raced as a runner, cross country skier, triathlete, and rower.
-M.jpeg) Ezekiel Baskin Position: Rural Health Education Coordinator Email: [email protected]
Phone: 207.828.5524 EXT#3
Ezekiel Baskin is delighted to be joining the NERHA team! They are a public health educator and administrator based in rural Western MA. Prior to joining NERHA, Ezekiel worked with Partners in Health on the Massachusetts COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative project, where they designed and implemented trainings for a range of internal and external audiences, advocated for equity, supported staff colleagues, and conducted call monitoring sessions for training and quality assurance. Ezekiel is also active as a theatre director and producer, with a focus on supporting new play development. Outside of work, Ezekiel raises chickens and enjoys playing board and card games.  Kiera Hight Position: Executive & Member Services Coordinator Email: [email protected]
Phone: 207.828.5524 EXT#2
Kiera is extremely excited to be brought onto NERHA's team fully after 3 years with the Association as a contractor. Her passion has always aligned with assisting others to see that their goals are met and that their brands and businesses grow. Throughout her professional career she has committed herself to serving the people she works with to help their projects reach new heights. Having grown up in rural Virginia she has a love of and understanding of rural needs that continues to serve her well. Outside of work she loves to hike, kayak, and read anything she can get her hands on. |