Mellie Boagni (f. Bridewell)

Bio

Ms. Mellie Boagni (f. Bridewell) currently works for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as the Director of the Office of Strategic Management and serves as the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer.  Mellie has eighteen years of experience in community and organizational networking, grant writing, and program development and implementation. Mellie created the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership organization in 2008 which began with five critical access hospitals and has grown to twelve member hospitals across the south Arkansas region.  

Mellie has obtained over $12 million dollars in grant funds for Arkansas Rural Health Partnership to implement healthcare provide training opportunities, healthcare workforce initiatives, chronic disease programs, behavioral and mental health services, and access to care throughout the Arkansas Delta.  Ms. Bridewell currently serves on the National Rural Health Association Congress and was recently chosen as one of fifteen in the country to participate in their Rural Fellows program for 2019.  She also serves on the board of the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association.  

Ms. Boagni has a reputation in the state of Arkansas and throughout the country as an ambassador for rural healthcare.  Her ability to convene the appropriate partners and valuable stakeholders has led to state and national recognition. In 2016, Ms. Boagni was acknowledged as a Federal Office of Rural Health’s Rural Health Champion.  She has led the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership for twelve years.  Over that time the organization was recognized nationally as a Rural Health Community Champion for Collaborative Partnerships by the Federal Office of Rural Health and as Outstanding Network of the Year by the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association.