The newly renovated Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center, featuring a state-of-the-art OnMed® Telehealth Station, has provided over 1,150 patient consultations in its first 16 months. This ambition, a result of the local community and the AU Rural Health Initiative supported by Auburn Outreach and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is a collaborative effort involving a diverse group of faculty and staff. Telehealth services emphasize substance use disorder treatment, mental health, and primary care, with OnMed healthcare stations at six sites and telehealth carts at ten sites. Additionally, the College of Nursing, College of Liberal Arts, College of Education, College of Human Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Pharmacy contribute significantly to face-to-face community service, bringing specialized expertise and hands-on support directly to the communities in need. The facility, praised for its convenience and effectiveness, has become a crucial resource, saving time, money, and lives.

Auburn University's dedicated efforts to bolster workforce development in Alabama have reached a milestone as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant program draws to a close after 3 years of the Auburn University Success Plus Youth Program being held in Macon and Bullock County Schools.

Access to health care is no longer a major issue for people in two rural Alabama communities. This is thanks to Auburn University’s expansion of the Rural Health Initiative footprint, which now features the OnMed Care Station and in-person health and wellness services in Wilcox and Greene counties.

The Dr. Royrickers Cook Endowed Engagement Award is presented annually to one faculty or staff member who has shown an ongoing and purposeful commitment to implementing outreach. This award is intended to honor one recipient who understands civic and community engagement, interpersonal relationships, and serving the underserved.