Dan Hardesty elected IRHA President-Elect

A Parke County native and Clinton resident, Daniel Hardesty, was recently elected Board President of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA). IRHA is the largest and most active rural health association in the county, with more than 3,000 members.

Dan serves as Associate Director for the Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Health in Terre Haute. He joined the Lugar Center in 2017 after completing his Master’s in Public Administration from Indiana State University.

As a former IRHA fellow, Dan believes solutions to rural health problems are best solved through collaborative and innovative strategies that incorporate local institutions. His vision aligns with the association’s mission - to enhance the health and well-being of rural populations in Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, collaboration, and resource development.

Since joining the Lugar Center for Rural Health, Dan led and collaborated on projects in the areas of telehealth, infant mortality, substance abuse, and policy issues. These experiences correlate directly to working within organizations that are directly involved with rural health issues. He has also worked with officials at the federal and state levels to impact rural healthcare through bill sponsorship, specifically for maternity care.

“It is an honor to serve on the IRHA Board and support the organization’s growth and impact. I am a firm believer that strong rural healthcare leads to vibrant rural communities and economies,” stated Dan when asked about his thoughts on being elected by his peers to help lead the 20-person Board of Directors in 2022 which oversees the organization during the annual IRHA conference, in French Lick, IN.

For information about IRHA, visit: www.indianaruralhealth.org