SWOSU Rural Health Center Receives Microgrant to Support Rural Health Access

The SWOSU Rural Health Center will be housed within the new Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center, where students, faculty, and community partners will work together to support rural health initiatives across western Oklahoma.

The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Rural Health Center within the College of Pharmacy has received a Community-Led Wellness Microgrant through the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program. The $199,941.98 award will support a mobile resource van and community resource kits that will bring health education, screenings, and essential supplies to Roger Mills and Washita counties.

The project will help expand access to preventive health education, early intervention services, medical equipment, safety supplies, and health-related resources in rural western Oklahoma. The funding will help bring resources closer to residents in communities where access to health services and supplies can be limited.

SWOSU received $99,944.02 for Roger Mills County, which will go toward the purchase of the mobile resource van. SWOSU also received $99,997.96 for Washita County, with part of that funding covering the remaining cost of the van. The rest of the award will support essential medical equipment, safety supplies, and health-related resources for community education, school, hospital, pharmacy, and baby kits.

Supplies are expected to include scales, thermometers, glucose and blood pressure monitoring kits, AEDs, car seats, and safe sleep items. The mobile resource van and kits will be purchased before Oct. 30, according to the grant contract. Community events in surrounding counties are expected to begin in spring 2027.

SWOSU will work with partners in Roger Mills and Washita counties, including Cordell Memorial Hospital through the Community Health Worker program. These partnerships will support community-based outreach and help connect rural residents with prevention-focused resources, screenings, and education.

"At the SWOSU Rural Health Center, we believe meaningful change begins with strong community partnerships," said Dr. Kalie Kerth, director of the Center. "This microgrant allows us to expand innovative, prevention-focused resources that meet people where they are and improve access to care throughout rural western Oklahoma. We are excited to work alongside our partners to build healthier communities and create lasting opportunities for generations to come."

The award comes as SWOSU prepares for the first semester in the new Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center. The center will support rural health education, community partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities for SWOSU students preparing for careers in health care.

For more information about the SWOSU Rural Health Center, visit https://www.swosu.edu/pharmacy/rhc/index.php.

Funding acknowledgment: Rural Health Transformation Program publication is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $223,476,948.62 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit https://www.swosu.edu.