Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor of health management and policy, was named the 2025 recipient of the Iowa Rural Health Association (IRHA)’s Jerry Karbeling Award. This annual award honors exceptional rural health leaders who demonstrate outstanding advocacy, innovation, and commitment to improving health and well-being across Iowa’s rural communities.

Zahnd’s research employs health services research and social epidemiological approaches to address rural cancer disparities across the continuum and to ameliorate disparities in access to health care services. Currently, she serves as the deputy director of the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, co-chair the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network’s rural cancer work group, secretary of the Iowa Rural Health Association board, and chair of the Journal of Rural Health editorial board.

Dr. Zahnd teaches graduate-level courses in healthcare organization and policy and research methods. She enjoys working with students inside and outside the classroom and through the Advancing Cancer and Rural Equity (ACRE) lab. Her goal is to help students meet their individual academic and professional goals and to help prepare them for careers that ensure our healthcare and public health systems are equitable, effective, and efficient. She also currently serves as the faculty advisor for the Student Association for Rural Health at Iowa.