On Nov. 3, 2021, the Iowa Rural Health Association honored Keith Mueller, Gerhard Hartman Professor and head of health management and policy, with the Jerry Karbeling Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to rural health in Iowa. 

“Keith brings experience, understanding, and political acumen to the rural health policy arena. And rural people and places are better for it,” said Clint MacKinney, clinical associate professor of health management and policy.

“His list of publications and creative works is lengthy, and his three areas of research are: Delivery of healthcare in rural areas, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and rural health policy,” wrote Gloria Vermie, IRHA board member, in her nomination letter. “Keith is gifted public health and rural health policy content expert, who shares his knowledge, passion, and dry-sense of humor with several organizations, including the White House and the Iowa Rural Health Association.”

Mueller is also the director of the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis and chair of the RUPRI Health Panel. He has served as president of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. He has also served on national advisory committees to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He has published more than 220 scholarly articles and policy papers, and received awards recognizing his research contributions from NRHA, RUPRI, and the University of Nebraska. In 2016, he received the University of Iowa Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.