Posted 5/29/2008

Health group has busy year ahead educating new legislators about health needs of rural South Carolinians

Dr. Amy Brock Martin, deputy director of the S.C. Rural Health Research Center, has been named 2008 Rural Educator of the Year and president-elect of the S.C. Rural Health Association.

Martin, who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of rural South Carolinians, was honored at the Health Association’s annual conference in April.

Amy Brock Martin

Martin is an alumna of the University of South Carolina where she earned her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Her DrPH is from the Arnold School where she has a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management.

Before joining the S.C. Rural Health Research Center four years ago, she was a program manager for the Office of Research and Statistics at the State Budget and Control Board.

She also was associate director of the State Office of Rural Health where she managed a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant. Additionally she was director of education for a rural hospital.

The S.C. Rural Health Association has more than 250 members, including academics, public health professionals and health care providers such as physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners. The S.C. Departments of Health and Environmental Control and Health and Human Services also are members.

Martin said the association’s mission is to advocate for the needs of rural residents and educate policymakers about the unique challenges and opportunities of rural health care.

She said the educational mission is particularly important this year because the upcoming election is expected to yield a number of new legislators unfamiliar with rural health issues.