Who We Are
Our story
For over five decades, Rural Health Projects has been driven by the power of community-led care. Our journey began with a simple yet powerful conviction: rural communities deserve a specialized, dedicated voice to tackle health challenges unique to life outside urban centers.
What started as a localized grassroots movement has grown into a multi-million-dollar health engine. As the host for the Northwest Area Health Education Center (NwAHEC) and the fiscal agent for the Tri-County Health Improvement Organization (Tri-CHIO), we bring together local leaders, healthcare professionals, schools, and families.
Whether we are training the next generation of rural healthcare providers, facilitating tobacco-free spaces in local towns, or supporting elementary students through tutoring and early learning, our heart remains neighbor-to-neighbor support.
Our Mission
To improve access to and quality of healthcare services for rural Oklahomans through collaboration, advocacy, education, recruitment, and training.
Our Vision: Giving voice and vision to rural health.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of stewardship and impact. By actively weaving our programs into a single cohesive strategy, we prevent mission drift and directly address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). We proudly stand beside our region's high-need populations—including Hispanic/Latinx, Marshallese, low-income families, and the unhoused—ensuring that healthcare equity is a reality for everyone.
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"Giving voice and vision to rural health."
Our Past
Building a Firm Foundation
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1972: Local leaders launch grassroots advocacy and neighbor-to-neighbor wellness support in rural Oklahoma.
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1989: Established as an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to fight local provider shortages.
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1992: Achieved full independence as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, opening new doors for multi-sector funding and regional growth.
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2000–2015: Partnered with Northwestern Oklahoma State University to build state-of-the-art simulation labs and launched long-term chronic disease and TSET community wellness programs.
"Giving voice and vision to rural health."
Our Present
Deepening Our Impact
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2020–2023: Secured critical pandemic relief funds, hired Community Health Workers (CHWs) for vulnerable populations, and launched an inaugural CHW Certification program.
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2024: Formally cut the ribbon on the Tri-County Family Resource Center (FRC) serving Grant, Garfield, and Alfalfa counties.
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2026: Welcomed new leadership under Executive Director Kate Ladwig and expanded the FRC into a new public space in the heart of downtown Enid, creating a welcoming, publicly accessible space, furthering our ability to serve.
"Giving voice and vision to rural health."
Our Future
Looking forward, we are breaking down geographic barriers by bringing health and social resources directly to our neighbors' doorsteps:
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Community Resource Directory: Cultivating a resource directory for NW Oklahomans, joining the resources available with existing organizations and serving as the connector to ensure needs are met.
Remote Food & Resource Hubs: Deploying 24/7 automated "Rural Refill Smart Kiosks" to deliver food, medicine, and basic family essentials in food deserts. -
The Skills Kitchen: Constructing a commercial-grade teaching kitchen to a to host regional nutrition and chronic disease prevention classes.
"Giving voice and vision to rural health."
Key metrics
& milestones
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Unmodified "Clean" Financial Audit: Certified sound financial stewardship and transparent governance.
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Healthy Built Environments: Facilitated over 60 municipal and school wellness policies, promoting nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco-free parks.
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Healthcare Workforce Pipeline: Continuous operation of the AHEC Scholars program and pipeline events connecting health profession students to rural careers.
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Empowering Families: Creation of the Tri-County FRC to combat Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through education and parent leadership.
Community Health & Wellness
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50,000+ residents reached through wellness policy adoptions in local towns and schools.
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19,103 rural grocery shoppers reached with increased access to fresh, healthy produce.
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29,923 active digital referral sessions logged for frontier vaccine outreach.
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59% graduation rate for diabetes health management classes held in the Marshallese language.
Workforce Development
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1,110+ students inspired through healthcare career events like Operation Orange and Career Connections.
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28 active interdisciplinary AHEC Scholars preparing to enter rural clinical fields.
Family & Academic Resilience
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37,405 educational questions answered by local elementary students on our academic learning platform.
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870 state-standard academic skills mastered by youth in our FRC tutoring programs.
Financial Stewardship
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$1.13M+ annual budget managed efficiently with an indirect cost rate kept under 15%.
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83.1% of revenue secured through competitive grant awards.
'Living the Small Town Life'
Enid News & Eagle
"When Kate Ladwig talks about rural health care, she doesn’t begin with statistics or policy. Instead, she talks about long drives, empty roads and the realities of living miles away from the nearest grocery store or emergency room.
Those experiences shape her leadership as the new executive director of Rural Health Projects, where she is working to improve access to health care and essential resources for communities across Northwest Oklahoma."
‘All about filling the gaps’
Enid News & Eagle
"One of the most rewarding aspects of Rural Health Projects’ work is its impact on individuals struggling with healthcare access, Seigars said.
Helping them understand their options and reducing that financial burden has led to some truly emotional moments.
People have left our offices in tears of relief, knowing they can now see a doctor without worrying about their monthly budget.”
