Weatherford, OK – A new Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Rural Health project will help more patients in western Oklahoma access specialized surgical care closer to home while strengthening training for future healthcare professionals. SWOSU received a $3,999,285 award through the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Rural Health Transformation Program Rural Regional Reorientation initiative.

The award includes the purchase of an approximately $2.5 million robotic surgical system for Weatherford Regional Hospital. The system will help expand local access to advanced general surgery and obstetric and gynecologic surgical services. This can reduce the need for patients to travel to larger metropolitan areas for specialized care.

The project also includes new medical simulation and workforce training equipment for SWOSU pharmacy, nursing, and allied health students. These resources will give students more opportunities to train with equipment connected to patient care in western Oklahoma. The investment also supports the long-term need for trained healthcare professionals in rural communities.

SWOSU Rural Health wrote and submitted the grant, and Dr. Kalie Kerth, director of the SWOSU Rural Health Center, serves as the principal investigator. The award follows SWOSU Rural Health Center’s recent Community-Led Wellness Microgrant, which also came through the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program and supports rural health resources in Roger Mills and Washita counties.

The partnership between SWOSU and Weatherford Regional Hospital is central to the project. Together, the organizations developed a proposal focused on improving healthcare access, supporting workforce development, and strengthening rural healthcare services across western Oklahoma. The award builds on that partnership and supports a shared goal of keeping more care, training, and resources in the region.

“This investment represents a transformational opportunity for both rural healthcare delivery and workforce development,” said Kerth. “The project reflects the long-standing partnership between SWOSU and Weatherford Regional Hospital and our shared commitment to improving healthcare access, advancing rural health solutions, and building a strong rural healthcare workforce for generations to come.”

Representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program visited SWOSU’s Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center on Aug. 5. SWOSU was selected for the visit after being named one of 68 competitive Community-Led Wellness Microgrant recipients across Oklahoma. The visit focused on the SWOSU Rural Health Center’s rural health projects, its community partnerships, and the work taking shape through the new center.

The award comes as SWOSU begins its first semester in the new Jerry & Margaret Hodge College of Pharmacy and Rural Health Center. The center houses the SWOSU Rural Health Center and supports rural health education, student training, community partnerships, and healthcare projects connected to western Oklahoma.

Funding acknowledgment: The Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through funding opportunities within the Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.

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