Dr. Aaron Shirley, Pioneer of Rural Health Care in Mississippi, Receives Citizen Diplomat Award

March 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Dr. Aaron Shirley, a dedicated community activist and pioneer of rural health care in Mississippi, received NCIV’s Citizen Diplomat Award. The Award honors individuals or institutions for their outstanding achievements in furthering the cause of international understanding and global engagement. NCIV member organization the International Visitors Center of Jackson (IVCJ) nominated Dr. Shirley for the honor, and Sara Williams, Program Officer at IVCJ, was on hand to introduce him. Alexander P. Durtka, Jr., Chair of NCIV’s Board of Directors, presented the Citizen Diplomat award to Dr. Shirley during the concluding luncheon of NCIV’s National Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Shirley was recognized for his work establishing health houses in the Mississippi Delta using a model for healthcare delivery pioneered in Iran. His work shows how a passion for change in concert with a high-impact exchange program can make a profound difference in people’s lives.

In 2008, Dr. Shirley teamed up with Dr. James Miller and Dr. Mohammad Shabazi to implement the “rural health house” model that Dr. Miller discovered in Iran while on a professional exchange program. Learning from Iranian doctors, the three established a series of exchanges and a partnership with Shiraz University. This led Dr. Shirley to create the HealthConnect group in 2010, consisting of 11 school-based community health centers across the Mississippi Delta aimed at reducing health disparities among poor and rural populations.

NCIV President Jennifer Clinton said, “Dr. Shirley is a shining example of how each citizen can become a catalyst for global change and transform entire communities for the better. His personal commitment to solving our toughest challenges and openness to looking beyond our borders for solutions illustrate the positive impact international exchanges have not just abroad but here at home. ”

About the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV)
NCIV builds relationships across sectors and continents, helping shape U.S. foreign relations by opening avenues for increased understanding and greater cooperation, security and prosperity. Founded in 1961, NCIV is a vibrant network of over 90 nonprofit organizations all over the United States that connect leaders in U.S. communities with leaders from all around the world through the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchanges. Each year more than 40,000 volunteers across the U.S. are involved in NCIV member activities. For additional information, visit http://www.nciv.org.

About the International Visitors Center of Jackson (IVCJ)
Established in 1986, the International Visitors Center of Jackson (IVCJ) at Jackson State University7 is the only center for international visitors on the campus of a historically black college or university, endeavors to provide its international visitors with programs of the highest quality. Located in the state capital, Jackson, Mississippi is the crossroads of the South, with Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee at our borders. Our mission of improving and strengthening cultural and economic understanding between the citizens of Mississippi and foreign dignitaries, demonstrates the importance of tolerance, global commonalities, and best practices in promoting democratic principles within a democracy. There is something truly unique about Mississippi, our history is rich, and every Mississippian has been molded and influenced by it. We remain proud to prove the point, that Mississippi is more than just a river.