President's Perspective – National Rural Health Day Marks Its 15th Anniversary
(Nov. 13, 2026) – The Kansas Hospital Association and our members will celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, at the Rural Health Symposium in Hays. Established in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, National Rural Health Day is the annual observance that takes place on the third Thursday of November to honor the "Power of Rural."
KHA joins the American Hospital Association and other organizations and communities across the country to recognize the dedicated health care providers, hospitals, State Offices of Rural Health and partners who work tirelessly to serve rural communities.
In its 15th year, National Rural Health Day has provided an important opportunity to celebrate rural health care. Our members know the impact rural hospitals have on their communities every day as rural hospitals are often the cornerstone of their communities, providing essential care, supporting local economies and ensuring patients can access services close to home.
We hope you all will be able to use this day as an opportunity to recognize the dedication of rural physicians, nurses, community health workers, and rural hospitals that serve as community cornerstones across Kansas. It also gives you an opportunity to draw attention to systemic hurdles in rural health care, including provider shortages, aging populations, limited transit/access and financial strains on rural facilities.
We hope you can also join us for the KHA Rural Health Symposium in Hays that features numerous members and speakers, inspired collaboration, sparked innovation and highlighted how we are strengthening care in Kansas communities. Topics include cybersecurity, federal advocacy, evacuation and emergency response to wildfires, financial challenges and opportunities, as well as Rural Health Transformation and numerous roundtable discussions. Online registration is still available.
If you don't have anything planned yet for Rural Health Day, we encourage you to check out toolkits, messaging and event ideas on the Power of Rural official site. In addition, AHA has curated resources, stories and events, as well that highlight the difference rural health care providers make in the lives of patients and communities.
All of us at the Kansas Hospital Association are proud to honor your commitment, leadership and service — on this day and throughout the year.
--Chad Austin