Lake Placid - The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) awarded Joyce Hyatt, PhD '06, RN with the Rural Health Worker of the Year award for 2007.  The award was presented by NYSARH on Thursday, September 13th at its sixth annual conference held at the Hilton Lake Placid Resort in Lake Placid , New York .

Dr. Hyatt is the director of the Chemung Valley Health Network as well as the coordinator of the Chemung County Medical Reserve Corps (CCMRC).  The CCMRC was formed in 2006 at the direction of the Chemung County Public Health Emergency Planning Committee to create a structure for health professionals who work or live in Chemung County to volunteer in case of a public health emergency.

The Rural Health Worker of the Year Award is given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution of major significance to rural health in New York , who is a member of the NYS Association for Rural Health and is actively involved in health in NY.  Dr. Hyatt was nominated for this award by Cathleen Mathey, Director of Community Outreach with the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in collaboration with BJ Butler, Executive Director of Southern Tier Pediatrics, Laura Campbell, Program Manager for the Arnot Ogden Medical Center Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and Maryann Bryant, Deputy of Family Development for the Economic Opportunity Program, Inc.

In nominating Hyatt Mathy noted,  "Joyce was responsible for preparing and submitting grants for the Chemung Valley Rural Health Network that have resulted in over $1.9 million dollars of grant monies to improve rural health outcomes. In addition to the CVRHN grant, Joyce has been a major contributor of her time and resources to secure other grant monies for a variety of health and wellness initiatives, including:  tobacco cessation, Healthy Hearts, Reach out and Read, the Colorectal and Prostate Health Initiative, and the Diabetes Action Program. She also has contributions to grants related to osteoporosis, workplace wellness and retraining." 

Mathey also mentioned other initiatives Hyatt has contributed her time and talents to including the development of the Health Ministries of the Southern Tier, the Medical Reserve Corps, the development of member handbooks for sight-impaired patients as well as being instrumental in the development of the Medical Academy of Science and Health (M.A.S.H. Camp) and the All Kids are Scientists after school curriculum.

Hyatt has numerous current and past affiliations with Health and Service agencies which include serving on the Task Force on Children and Families in Chemung County, the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center, Catholic Charities of Chemung County Pharmacy Assistance Program, a founding member of the Central New York Health Education Center, the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Transitions (a Mental Health Service Proponent), New York State Professional Nurses District 3, Charter Member and officer of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Finger Lake Health Systems Agency, New York Association for Rural Health, and the Finger Lakes Perinatal Network.

The award was presented to Hyatt by Karen Madden, Director of the Office of Rural Health with the New York State Department of Health.  Madden specifically requested to present the award as she has known Dr. Hyatt for many years and greatly admires her and her work.

The New York State Association for Rural Health is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, grassroots membership organization working to preserve and improve health and human services in rural New York State . NYSARH is a member of the National Rural Health Association.

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