Image: ruralhealthweb.org
A former senior official at the Pentagon, Van Hipp leads American Defense International, Inc., as Chairman and frequently contributes to publications such as Fox News. Outside of his professional pursuits, Van Hipp is involved with several charitable organizations, including the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).
Recognizing the numerous challenges that rural health care providers face when working to provide quality care to their patients, NRHA has implemented critical medical programming to assist the most underserved rural communities. One such initiative, the Community Health Worker Training Network (CHWTN), is helping address the issues surrounding worker shortages in rural areas.
NRHA initially established this program in 2011 to provide medical training to more than 60 health employees working near the border of the United States and Mexico. Since then, it has expanded into a much larger initiative with additional focus in both border communities as well as areas in Appalachia. Additional funding from the Verizon Foundation enabled CHWTN to grow even further, with medical partners now in all areas of the United States.
Through the program, NRHA has delivered crucial medical training to community health workers who previously lacked skills in such areas as medical leadership and organization of care. This initiative has also enabled the organization to train some personnel in technologies that can improve their care of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Van Hipp 