New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) Welcomes Elizabeth L. Phillips to Board of Directors

FORT EDWARD, NY (10/26/2026) (readMedia)-- New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) is pleased to announce the election of Elizabeth L. Phillips, MPH, MCHES®, Vice President of Community Engagement at Sun River Health, to its Board of Directors.

Elizabeth brings 26 years of experience at Sun River Health, where she has led and supported interdisciplinary teams focused on improving community health. Her work spans the Hudson Valley, Suffolk County, and New York City, supporting patients across Sun River Health's network of 50 federally qualified community health centers.

As Vice President of Community Engagement, she provides leadership and resources for grant-funded programs focused on prevention, wellness, health promotion, and access to primary health care. She also serves as Director of the Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network, where she strengthens community partnerships, mentors AmeriCorps members and Community Health Workers, and supports initiatives addressing rural health needs.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Public Health from the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. Her approach emphasizes teamwork, community service, and health education as tools for empowering individuals and building lasting partnerships. She believes that small, meaningful changes can lead to healthier lifestyles and stronger communities.

Through her service on the NYSARH Board, Phillips brings extensive experience in public health leadership, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships, along with a commitment to strengthening prevention efforts and improving access to health care in rural communities.

"Elizabeth has spent more than two decades connecting people to the care they need, and her leadership at Sun River Health and the Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network gives her firsthand insight into what works in rural communities," said Jennifer Muthig, Executive Director of NYSARH. "Her experience with community health centers and rural health networks will strengthen our Board and is exactly the kind of expertise we want guiding NYSARH's work."

NYSARH is pleased to welcome Elizabeth and looks forward to her contributions to the organization and its mission.

About NYSARH:

The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) is the statewide hub for rural health leaders, connecting members to the advocacy, expertise, relationships, and resources they need to strengthen their organizational capacity and improve the health of rural New Yorkers. NYSARH ensures rural communities are heard and valued by representing its members' voices in state and national policy discussions that inform and influence their health and future. NYSARH membership is open to any organization whose mission, goals, or interests align with NYSARH's, and includes public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit, small and large organizations, individual professionals, and students.