HSR&D investigator William Weeks, MD, MBA, has been named Outstanding Researcher for 2009 by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). Dr. Weeks is Director of the Veterans' Rural Health Initiative at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, and Director of the Vermont Field Office of VHA's National Center for Patient Safety.
Dr. Weeks has conducted extensive research in the field of rural health, focusing on coronary artery bypass grafts and percutaneous coronary interventions in two large studies. He also has presented widely on the topic of quality improvement and has taken part in a number of expert panels addressing the challenges surrounding rural healthcare.
Each year, the NRHA celebrates excellence by honoring outstanding individuals and organizations in the field of rural health care; Dr. Weeks will be honored as Outstanding Researcher on May 7 during the NRHA's 2009 annual meeting in Miami.
The NRHA is a national nonprofit membership organization with more than 18,000 members. The association's mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues. The NRHA membership is made up of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.