Vidant Health, The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group are proud to announce that Dr. Christina Bowen, medical director of The Outer Banks Hospital Center for Healthy Living, was selected by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to represent North Carolina and will appear in the 2020 edition of Community Stars.

Each year on the third Thursday of November, NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day, an annual day of celebration that shines a light on the vital health needs of an estimated 57 million people living in rural America.

In eastern North Carolina, National Rural Health Day is an important moment for Vidant to reflect on its service to the region and its commitment to its mission to improve the health and well-being of those it serves and loves. This National Rural Health Day, Vidant is proud to honor Dr. Bowen and the 13,000-plus team members that make a difference in the lives of the 1.4 million people we serve.

In 2015, NOSORH put out a nationwide call to nominate individuals, organizations and coalitions making a positive impact in rural communities. Soon after the stories started to arrive, the book of National Rural Health Day Community Stars was created. This year, nominations came in from 48 states, a record for this annual inspiring recognition program.

Dr. Bowen’s focus on patient-centered care and healthy lifestyle education makes a difference in the lives of those she serves. In 2019, Dr. Bowen helped organize a community education event called “Power Over Cancer: Creating an Action Plan to Prevent Breast and Other Cancers” to educate and motivate attendees on the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and how that affects health and well-being.

“I am truly humbled and honored to have been selected to receive the Community Star recognition,” Dr. Bowen said. “Having grown up in eastern North Carolina and then attending ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, I count practicing in eastern North Carolina a gift. I am thankful for my community, my team and my amazing patients.”

Outer Banks Hospital President Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, added: “Dr. Bowen’s passion, engagement, and positivity are infectious. We are fortunate that she lives and works here on the Outer Banks and the region is blessed that she has the heart and drive to spread her passion for wellness throughout the 29-county region of eastern North Carolina that Vidant Health serves.”

In addition to her role at the Center for Healthy Living, Dr. Bowen also serves as the medical director of Vidant’s Office of Experience, medical director of Integrative Medicine at ECU Health Cancer Care and medical director of the Dare County Health Department.

“Dr. Bowen has been an invaluable addition to The Office of Experience as Medical Director, and we are grateful for the vision of The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group to expand her influence throughout the region,” said Vidant Chief Experience Office Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert. “We are so fortunate to have a practicing Integrative Medicine provider at Vidant Health, who is capable of leading integrative medicine thought leadership for our patients and our team members. She is a tireless role model and advocate for compassion and love as essentials for health care.”

This National Rural Health Day, Vidant and The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Dr. Bowen and all Vidant team members for their commitment to serving eastern North Carolina.