On Thursday, February 27, Mellie Boagni received the inaugural Bridge Award presented by Heartland Whole Health Institute. The Bridge Award, established in 2025, honors those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and excellence in improving the quality of health care for individuals and/or communities.

Boagni currently serves as the CEO, President, & Founder of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership and as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Director of Strategy, Management, and Administration. In 2008, she founded the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership - uniting five critical access hospitals in their work to overcome the unique challenges health systems face in rural communities. Since then, the ARHP has grown to include 19 rural hospitals, four federally qualified health centers, over 100 owned or affiliated clinics, and three medical schools serving rural Arkansas residents. Boagni has secured over $67 million in grant funding for rural health initiatives, where she has successfully improved the sustainability of comprehensive health care provision.

"We're so thankful to Mellie for her contributions to health care in Arkansas," said Dr. Sarah Bemis, Associate Vice President of Workforce and Policy Affairs at Heartland Whole Health Institute. "This inaugural Bridge Award is a testament to her profound impact on individuals and communities alike - an inspiration to us all," Dr. Bemis continued.

Members of the public are encouraged to nominate recipients for the Bridge Award through this form. Those nominating an individual should include specific and inspiring examples of why they are an excellent candidate for the award.