Dr. Hinkle named assistant dean for rural health professions and NCRHP director
Dr. Hinkle named assistant dean for rural health professions and NCRHP director Heading link
Hana Hinkle, PhD, MPH, has been named assistant dean for Rural Health Professions and director of the National Center for Rural Health Professions (NCRHP).
In her new role, Dr. Hinkle will provide leadership for operations, strategic planning, research and curriculum. She’ll also provide oversight for several initiatives, including the Illinois Area Health Education Center program, Rural Health Professions academic programs, Native American Pathways and rural health internships and experiences.
“I’m delighted to have Dr. Hinkle in these new roles,” says Alex Stagnaro-Green, regional dean. “She brings extensive experience, a host of national partnerships and great passion for rural health care.”
A dynamic researcher, educator and leader who has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for underserved populations, Hinkle has held leadership positions with NCRHP since 2013 and has served as the interim director and department head for NCRHP since June 2021.
She’s also director of the Illinois Area Health Education Center Network and NCRHP’s World Health Organization/Pan-American Health Organization Collaborating Center for medical education and primary health care. In addition, she’s executive director for the Rural Training Track Collaborative and she’s a Presidential Leadership Scholar.
She holds a master’s degree in public health with a focus on community and behavioral health and a doctorate in health sciences with a focus on addressing the training needs of the healthcare workforce through an innovative model of culturally appropriate healthcare delivery.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to build upon the past successes of our programs while further expanding our footprint nationally and globally,” Dr. Hinkle says. “I’m from a rural community and I’ve seen firsthand the needs of rural and underserved communities. I’m honored to lead our incredible team of faculty, staff and community partners in NCRHP to improve the health of rural communities throughout the state, nationally and internationally through our innovative work.”