Zora Denson recognized as South Carolina’s “Community Star” on National Rural Health Day

Zora Denson, Ph.D., director of community relations for the Town of Heath Springs, has been named South Carolina’s 2022 Community Star, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) announced Thursday.

On the third Thursday of November, NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day (NRHD), an annual celebration that honors those serving the vital health needs of nearly 61 million rural Americans. In conjunction with NRHD, NOSORH made a nationwide call for nominations, seeking individuals, organizations, and coalitions making a positive impact in rural communities.

Denson is featured in the 2022 edition of the Community Star eBook, which is available on the official NRHD website, PowerofRural.org. The eBook showcases the stories of Community Stars from 48 states, exemplifying this year’s NRHD theme of “Driving Change and Going the Extra Mile.”

Denson was nominated by Karen Nichols, executive director of the Upper Midlands Rural Health Network. She cited Denson’s efforts to organize community-wide nutrition and fitness programs, COVID testing and vaccine sites, food and water distribution during the pandemic, and a variety of community events.

“Dr. Denson is one of those ‘gatekeepers’ and ‘community champions’ that many of us in public health rely on to spread the work and engage others,” Nichols wrote. “She truly has a passion for working with the community as a connector. She consistently and eagerly seeks to link people and purpose to improve and enhance the quality of life in her native hometown of Heath Springs, South Carolina.”

Read more about Denson on the South Carolina Office of Rural Health website: scorh.net.