Note opportunity to speak with top federal health officials Elizabeth Duke, administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C., will make remarks and be available to speak with attendees at a reception Monday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She will be accompanied by three additional top-level HRSA administrators. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with a $7 billion budget and 1,600 employees, is the principal federal agency charged with health care services and health professions education. HRSA’s programmatic portfolio includes: medicine, nursing, and dentistry training programs; public health, practitioner data bank; health professional shortage areas; the Community Health Centers program; the National Health Service Corps; Office of Rural Health Policy; Office of International Health; Office for the Advancement of Telehealth; Training in Primary Care program; Maternal and Child Health Bureau; Office of International Health Affairs; HIV/AIDs programs; and organ donation programs. You will also have the chance to meet: • Marcia Brand, HRSA associate administrator for Rural Health Policy and Health Professions • Tom Morris, deputy director, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration • Steve Smith, senior advisor to the HRSA administrator, who coordinates HRSA’s oral health, behavioral/mental health, and substance abuse programs • Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association, Washington, D.C. Events you are cordially invited to attend include: * Press conference celebrating the Rural Assistance Center’s fifth anniversary with Dr. Duke, President Kupchella, Alan Morgan, and others at 10 a.m. in the Reed Keller Auditorium, School of Medicine and Health Sciences. * Brief remarks and reception with Dr. Duke and other HRSA representatives at 10:45 a.m., Vennes Atrium, lower level, School of Medicine and Health Sciences * Press conference announcing the launch of the HRSA-funded health information technology network with Dr. Duke and others Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m., Vennes Atrium, lower level, School of Medicine and Health Sciences These events are being coordinated by the Center for Rural Health. Please RSVP by noon Friday, Dec. 7, to Michelle Graba at 777.3294 or mgraba@medicine.nodak.edu -- Naomi Lelm, Project Coordinator, Center for Rural Health, nlelm@medicine.nodak.edu, 7-0679