UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Each year, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania.

The awards were presented during the governor-proclaimed Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, which took place Nov. 17-21 and encompassed National Rural Health Day on Nov. 20.

National Rural Health Day and Rural Health Week celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers and communities.

Michael McShane
Pennsylvania Rural Health Hero of the Year

Michael McShane, associate professor of medicine at Penn State Health and the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus, received the 2025 Pennsylvania Rural Health Hero of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an outstanding leader in the area of rural health who demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to rural health needs, develops or expands a program that addresses a Pennsylvania rural health issue, and goes above and beyond the call of duty.

As co-founder of the LION Mobile Health Clinic, McShane has led efforts to bring vital health services directly to underserved populations, including the rural community of Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania and rural farm workers, while also connecting Penn State College of Medicine students with hands-on learning experiences.

In his role as assistant director of core clinical medicine and director of the longitudinal integrated clerkship at the College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus, McShane has demonstrated exceptional leadership in medical education, preparing future physicians to meet the unique challenges of rural health care.

Katie Donald
Pennsylvania Community Rural Health Leader of the Year

Katie Donald, vice president of professional and corporate services at Punxsutawney Area Hospital in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, received the 2025 Pennsylvania Community Rural Health Leader of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an outstanding leader who has organized, led, developed or expanded an exemplary multidimensional rural community health program or initiative; demonstrates leadership to rural community health programs; uses comprehensive, unique approaches to address a specific health issue; and collaborates with community organizations to develop or expand a program that addresses health issues affecting rural Pennsylvanians.

Donald has worked to implement initiatives that address Social Determinants of Health, high-risk pregnancies in the Amish community and educational opportunities for advancing health care careers in the Punxsutawney Area School District. She has also implemented initiatives that provide hygiene kits to students in the district and partnered with the Rotary Club to hold an annual community blood screening program. Her efforts illustrate her role as a leader, making a difference in the community.

Linda D. Snyder
Pennsylvania State Rural Health Leader of the Year

Linda D. Snyder, vice president of family planning programs at Adagio Health Inc., received the 2025 Pennsylvania State Rural Health Leader of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an outstanding leader who has organized, led, developed or expanded an exemplary multidimensional state rural health program or initiative that benefits rural Pennsylvanians; demonstrates and provides leadership to a state health initiative; uses comprehensive, unique approaches to address a specific rural health issue; and works with relevant organizations to develop or expand a program that addresses health concerns affecting rural Pennsylvanians.

Snyder was instrumental in launching the Women’s Service Program, designed to support women in an empathetic, culturally informed way no matter their background, identity or income, specifically pregnant women and new mothers.

Snyder’s work has continually kept rural communities as a top priority in the Women’s Service Program in western Pennsylvania, providing support often not available in rural communities, such as menstrual health products and education, transportation, health care and direct access to community resource referrals.

Lycoming County Favors Forward Foundation
Pennsylvania Rural Health Program of the Year

The Favors Forward Foundation of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania received the 2025 Pennsylvania Rural Health Program of the Year Award. The award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community utilizing unique, creative and innovative approaches.

Established in 2009 in response to state and local budget constraints, the foundation is a cornerstone of hope and strength for the region. Favors Forward serves as a bridge and a lifeline, connecting individuals and families facing life-changing hardships such as illness, disability, domestic violence, homelessness, job loss or the death of a loved one with volunteers and community resources ready to help, often within 48 hours of a referral.

Volunteers bring a wide range of skills including youth support and skill building, cooking, cleaning, home repair, tutoring, transportation and the donation of essential goods, allowing the organization to meet physical, economic and social barriers to care.

At its core, the foundation embodies the belief that when a community unites to lift its most vulnerable members, it creates a ripple effect of healing, empowerment and shared humanity that enhances the health and strength of all.

Cameron Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force
Rural Health Community Program of the Year

The Cameron Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force (CESPTF) received the Pennsylvania Rural Health Community Program of the Year Award. The award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses a local identified need in a rural community utilizing unique, creative and innovative approaches to increase access to health care services and community health outcomes.

CESPTF’s work is grounded in data from the 2023 Pennsylvania Youth Survey which revealed elevated rates, higher than the state average, of students seriously considering attempting suicide. The three-part initiative includes locally manufactured 988 Coins designed by the St. Marys Area High School Dutch Manufacturing program, a partnership between students and local manufacturing businesses, a book designed by a local artist and mental health advocate and a digital billboard installation on a major Elk County highway route.

These efforts were supported by hosting 25 community assemblies at Cameron and Elk county schools, senior centers and local mental health awareness events, reaching thousands of residents, students and mental health and health care workers. Initial reports showed notable spikes in crisis calls to 988 in May and June 2025, reflecting initial campaign engagement.

Michael McShane, Mark Stephens, and the Penn State LION Mobile Clinic
Pennsylvania Rural Community Stars

Michael McShane, associate professor of medicine at Penn State Health and the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus; Mark Stephens, professor of medicine, and family and community medicine, and associate dean for medical education at the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus; and the LION Mobile Clinic were named the 2025 Pennsylvania Rural Community Stars.

In conjunction with National Rural Health Day, the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health established its annual Community Star Recognition Program in 2015 to tell the stories of people and organizations who make a difference in rural communities. Since then, these inspiring stories have been shared nationwide on National Rural Health Day, honoring more than 300 rural health stars.

McShane and Stephens are founders and leaders of the Penn State LION Mobile Clinic. The mobile clinic was launched in May 2022 to respond to a community in need. Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania experienced profound losses in 2020 that limited residents’ access to food, medicine and basic health care.

Recognizing the immense need, McShane and Stephens directed their expertise and resources to providing mobile primary care services to the community. Today, thanks to their leadership and dedication, the LION Mobile Clinic serves communities across the Centre County region with five fully equipped mobile units.

The clinic integrates Penn State medical students and undergraduate volunteers in service delivery, simultaneously bridging the gap in access to care for rural communities and providing the next generation of health care professionals with invaluable hands-on experience and exposure to delivering health care services in rural places.

McShane and Stephens, as rural health advocates, are centered on the mission of advancing care at every turn. They work to improve the quality and accessibility of health care services in rural communities and have designed a curriculum at the Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus that emphasizes rural health and experiential learning.

About the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking and partnership development.

PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.