Leanna Lehman
Nevada’s rural communities will join the national observance of National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20, to recognize both the work being done and the challenges that still shape healthcare in one of the most rural states in the country. Created in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the observance highlights the needs of the nearly 61 million Americans living outside major metropolitan areas, including residents in Nevada’s mining towns, farming regions, and frontier counties.
Access to care remains a pressing issue in many of these communities. Long drives to medical offices, limited provider availability, and strained local resources affect how residents seek and receive care. Routine medical needs often require a drive to Fallon or Fernley for those in outlying communities, and specialty care often means trips to Reno, Las Vegas, or into California. Winter weather, aging populations, heavy work demands in agriculture and mining, and a lack of transportation add to these challenges.
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the creation of the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD), headquartered in Fallon and serving Churchill, Mineral, Pershing, and Eureka counties. These counties partnered to develop a local public health structure designed around the state’s vast geography, limited services, and the need for decisions to be made close to home.
CNDH District Health Officer, Dr. Tedd McDonald, was recognized by the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) State Office of Rural Health, Nevada Rural Hospital Partners (NRHP), and the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV as the 2025 Community Star Recipient at Nevada’s National Rural Health Day event in Reno on Nov. 20. He brings more than 27 years of medical experience to this work and has long been part of rural Nevada’s healthcare landscape. “I served as Churchill County Health Officer for 13 years before becoming District Health Officer,” McDonald said.
In Fallon, McDonald practiced as an optometrist for 12 years and as an obstetrician-gynecologist. He also served as chief medical officer and medical director for Banner Churchill Hospital and Banner Rural Clinics. He later worked as chief medical officer and Community Health Officer for a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural Oregon.
CNHD, the first health district established in what is considered a frontier region of the state, was founded on the belief that local leaders best understood their residents’ needs. McDonald explained that the district received waivers from state service assessments, and member communities developed a work plan for environmental, epidemiological, clinical, and emergency planning services. The Nevada State Board of Health approved the plan in December 2022, and by July 2023, the district began delivering services directly to the public. “Its success has relied on open conversation, patience, and meeting people where they live and work,” McDonald said.
An integral part of the district’s long-term strategy is addressing the chronic shortage of primary-care physicians and specialists across rural Nevada. McDonald described a major collaborative effort to create a Rural Training Track family medicine residency program in Fallon. Renown Health, the University of Nevada School of Medicine’s Department of Rural Education, Banner Churchill Community Hospital, and Banner Rural Health Clinics all agreed to serve as educational sponsors, each bringing experience in rural medical education. Consultants assessed the financial model, teaching capacity, and resources needed to sustain the program. A Fallon Rural Family Medicine Residency Development Steering Committee was formed, and the program’s first cohort is expected in 2026. McDonald said the residency represents a significant step toward building long-term, sustainable healthcare solutions for small communities.
The focus on rural healthcare comes as the state pursues support for its remote regions. On Nov. 3, Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Health Authority submitted the state’s application for up to $200 million a year in federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion national initiative created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If awarded, the funds would support projects such as improving chronic disease management, modernizing clinics and hospitals, expanding the use of technology, and strengthening the rural healthcare workforce, beginning in 2026.
Together, the state’s application and the work underway in districts such as CNHD reflect a broader effort to improve care across rural Nevada. Access to reliable, local healthcare remains central to economic stability and quality of life. National Rural Health Day recognizes both the challenges and the ongoing work of local health teams, public health officials, and community partners committed to serving rural Nevadans.
National Rural Health Day offers a moment to recognize the work underway and the challenges that remain. More information is available at PowerOfRural.org.
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