National Rural Health Day
The North Carolina Office of Rural Health is proud to join communities across our state and our nation in celebration of National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on November 20, 2025.
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and rural-focused organizations across the United States set aside the third Thursday of November to recognize NRHD. This annual event provides an opportunity to celebrate Rural Rising and honor the individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique health care needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.
As part of NRHD, this event is an opportunity to celebrate the “Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevails in rural North Carolina. The event, which is being hosted in-person and livestreamed from MAHEC in Asheville, will showcase the efforts of rural health care providers, the State Office of Rural Health, and other rural stakeholders to address the unique health care challenges that rural North Carolinians face today and into the future.
North Carolina has long been a leader in rural health care, with a proud history of innovation and commitment to the well-being of its rural communities. As the home of the nation’s first Office of Rural Health, North Carolina continues to set the standard for supporting and advancing health care in rural areas.
National Rural Health Day
Theme: Rural Rising
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
MAHEC Campus
121 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
Register here
Space for 100 will be provided at MAHEC, and people from across NC are invited to participate virtually via Webex. Virtual attendees will be emailed a toolkit on hosting an event at their location to tie in with the “Rural Rising” theme.
This year’s theme, Rural Rising, celebrates the strength, resilience, and innovation of North Carolina’s rural communities and recognizes how rural healthcare providers, leaders, and partners are not just meeting today’s challenges — they are rising to create healthier and more connected communities for the future. Asheville, a hub for rural collaboration and innovation in Western NC, is the perfect place to lift up these stories of progress and partnership.
This year’s Community Star is David Pope. Pope is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Scotland Health Care System. He has been chosen because of his remarkable dedication, impact and advocacy in rural health, not only in his community, but across North Carolina. A powerful and charismatic leader, David’s historical understanding of the area led to an insistence on empowering a dedicated team and community to address the healthcare needs of rural Southeastern North Carolina. David empowers his team and his community to take charge of their health and elevates their voice on the state and national levels. Under David's leadership, Scotland Health has piloted a successful program to retain and strengthen their existing workforce, has successfully integrated Community Health Workers into the healthcare delivery model, enabling the community to receive services that address whole-person-health, and has strengthened and expanded service lines for the community, prioritizing underserved individuals and families. Under David’s leadership, staff at all levels are encouraged to share their “Big Hairy Audacious Goals”. David and the leadership team at Scotland Health truly listen to these ideas. In fact, one of these ideas is how the organization wound up with an innovative plan to convert an abandoned drug store chain location into a state of the art primary and urgent care facility. David's tireless efforts in promoting rural healthcare access have been inspiring. His humble and compassionate leadership style and commitment to making a difference have had positive impacts on his community and our state.
The event is sponsored by MAHEC, The NC Office of Rural Health, The North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, and The Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation.
Additional information about National Rural Health Day, including resources and tools, can be found at PowerofRural.org. Learn more about the NC Office of Rural Health.