Carrie Howard has been selected as the National Rural Health Association 2024 Rural Health Fellow. As a Program Manager, Carrie’s work at Stratis Health primarily focuses on improving health care quality and safety in rural and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. As a Rural Health Fellow, Carrie will be participating in a yearlong intensive program aimed at developing leaders who will take action towards a clear and compelling vision of health and equity for rural America.   

“I am excited to be a 2024 Rural Health Fellow. My devotion to improving rural health goes beyond the job, I also live in rural northern Minnesota. I know participation in the Rural Health Fellows program will expand my perspective and understanding of rural communities in other regions, help me connect with more rural health thought and improvement leaders, and allow me to practice advocacy for rural communities like mine and those I serve through my work,” said Carrie Howard, Program Manager, Stratis Health. 

Carrie is pleased to participate in this cohort as she seeks to explore the ways in which she can improve the delivery of care to communities that are often underserved and marginalized. As a 2024 Fellow, she will undergo intensive leadership and advocacy training which will be integral in her quality improvement work. 

“We are excited that Carrie has been chosen to be a 2024 Fellow. This is not only an exciting time for her, but also for our organization. We are confident that the skills and tools that she will gain will help Stratis Health be more intentional and strategic in its rural health,” said, Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, President and CEO of Stratis Health. 

Carrie joins a special group of Stratis Health team members who have been Rural Health Fellows in the past: Sarah Brinkman (2020) and Karla Weng (2008).  

To learn more about the fellowship, visit https://www.ruralhealth.us/programs/rural-health-fellows .