About Greater Nebraska Rural Research Network
“Closing the rural outcome gap has not happened largely because we have lacked the emphasis on discerning what matters more and what matters less and that is supported through research.”
– David Edwards, CEO Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System
The Greater Nebraska Rural Research Network (GNRRN, pronounced ‘grin’) is a permanent committee of the Nebraska Rural Health Association. GNRRN’s mission is to connect rural healthcare professions and community members in Nebraska with researchers. Our goal is to advance research that starts with and serves rural patients and communities. We do so through key activities:
- Moving patient-centered research activity in Greater Nebraska forward. The goal is to improve health outcomes with rural-specific best practices.
- Identifying research priorities in rural healthcare and supporting rural led research projects.
- Providing support and oversight of research proposals that come from outside GNRRN.
- Communicating meaningful research opportunities to NeRHA members in practical and effective ways.
Research networks support research by:
- Identifying priority topics
- Supporting connections with all those needed to do research
- Writing funding applications and
- Completing the research.
What Makes GNRRN Different
Usually, research networks are led by universities with advisory panels from rural communities. GNRRN is different. We collaborate with academic institutions, but we are independent. Because of this, rural research priorities are the only priorities driving GNRRN activities.
Why It Matters
People who live in rural areas have worse health outcomes than those who live in urban areas. One reason is because rural patients are not well represented in healthcare research. In fact, it’s common for a healthcare or research “best practice” to not work or even be practical in rural communities.
GNRRN is working to change all this by including more rural people in large clinical trials and by supporting research in rural Nebraska. What is learned from this research will help patients and providers alike to make better healthcare decisions.
The Greater Nebraska Rural Research Network was partially funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI®) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EACB-37692).
Want to be involved?
Success Stories
Greater Nebraska Rural Research Network (GNRRN) has officially launched
A newly formed research collaborative, launched in June at the 2026 Rural Health Conference in Kearney, is bringing together university researchers, rural clinicians, and community health workers from across Nebraska to study and address persistent health disparities affecting rural residents.
Status: New | Focus area: Rural health disparities, research infrastructure
Meet our Steering Committee:
Anthony D’Agostino
Community member, Seward
Brady Beecham
NeRHA Board Member
Brian Shelmadine
Community Physician, Alliance, NE
David Edwards
CEO, Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System
Jed Hansen
Executive Director, NeRHA
Jeremiah Hanes
CEO, Dundy County Hospital, Benkelman
Kyle Kellum
CEO, Melham Medical Center, Broken Bow
Molly Herzberg
CNO, Community Hospital, McCook
Ryan Larsen
CEO, Community Medical Center, Falls City
Shelby Regan
Community member, O’Neill
Toni Hill
Community member, Kearney