Dr. Minerva Gonzales, the director of Nursing at Sul Ross State University, and Dr. James Luecke, a West Texas physician, were both awarded at the National Rural Health Day Educational and Recruiting Fair in Odessa.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), in conjunction with the Area Health Education Center of the Permian Basin and the Texas Department of Agriculture State Office of Rural Health, hosted the event on Nov. 20.

Nearly 400 people attended, including 60 rural Certified Nursing Assistant students from the Alpine, Crane, McCamey and Grandfalls-Royalty public school districts, and students and faculty from TTUHSC, Odessa College, Midland College, SRSU and the University of Texas-Permian Basin, in addition to regional resident physicians and 20 rural healthcare organizations.

Dr. Gonzales received the Dr. Charles Sponsel Rural Healthcare Pioneer Faculty award for her commitment to rural nursing education and service, while Dr. Luecke received the Dr. Charles Sponsel Rural Healthcare Pioneer Clinician award for his 36 years of rural healthcare service and delivery in the Big Bend.

The goal of National Rural Health Day is to celebrate and advocate for rural healthcare.

Photo: Dr. Minerva Gonzales