Brock Rops Receives South Dakota Office of Rural Health Award
Rops, executive director of South Dakota HOSA and deputy director of the South Dakota Area Health Education Center (AHEC), has been a longtime champion of health care career exploration for young people in South Dakota.
According to the South Dakota Department of Health, he is a worthy recipient of the award because he brings an unmatched energy to all events and has a personal influence on all HOSA students who go through the program and enter academia and the health care work force as strong and well-prepared professionals. The inspiration he provides students to become future health care professionals not only supports a healthy and strong South Dakota, but also assists the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health’s mission of pushing the power of rural forward.
"Brock plays a pivotal role in encouraging young minds in South Dakota, especially rural areas, to consider health care careers and in guiding them along the way," Haifa A. Samra, Ph.D., dean of the USD School of Health Sciences, said. "He is a connector and collaborator who effectively works with state agencies, schools, community organizations and health care agencies to improve and create robust health care workforce pipelines. This is a well-deserved honor."
"It is such an honor and a privilege to be recognized for the efforts I am making regarding the rural health care pipeline,” said Rops. “Over the last decade, my team and I have built synergy with so many other organizations with similar interests and aims. We are truly starting to see these efforts come to fruition. I appreciate all the support and recognition for this work that I love."