BOONE, N.C. — A publication authored by a cross‑college research team at Appalachian State University has been recognized as the Journal of Rural Health's 2026 Article of the Year. “Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina,” published in the journal's Spring 2025 issue (41:2), was selected by the editorial board from all papers published that year, based on the relevance of the topic, innovation in methodology, applicability of the results, and overall reach.
The study was authored by researchers representing the Beaver College of Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, and Walker College of Business:
Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning
Jennifer Schoeder Tyson, research assistant professor in the Department of Public Health
Dr. Shishir Shakya, assistant professor in the Department of Economics
Dr. Jennifer Runkle, environmental epidemiologist at North Carolina State University
Sarah Ulrich '24, former graduate student in the Department of Geography and Planning and current Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Their collaboration brought together expertise in geography, economics, and public health to examine how access to maternal care varies across North Carolina.
The study, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Science Foundation, examined how far North Carolina residents must travel to reach maternity care, and how those travel barriers affect health outcomes. By combining statewide data on where people live, where providers are located, and hospital records from 2016-21, the researchers found a consistent pattern: communities located farther from obstetric and gynecological care — especially rural and low‑income areas — experience worse maternal and infant health outcomes.
Longer travel times were linked with higher rates of serious complications, including cesarean delivery, severe maternal health issues, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes. These findings held true even after accounting for age, race, and insurance coverage. The authors note that people living in “maternal care deserts” face greater risks simply because essential care is harder to reach, highlighting a significant public health challenge for underserved regions across the state.
The Journal of Rural Health's editorial board has invited the authors to be recognized at the National Rural Health Association's Annual Rural Health Conference Awards Luncheon on May 21, 2026, in San Diego, CA.
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About the Department of Economics
The Department of Economics offers diverse courses that cover standard fields such as microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, labor, public finance, regional and development economics. The department is particularly strong in the areas of environmental and experimental economics. It offers the Bachelor of Science in business administration (B.S.B.A.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Learn more at economics.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Geography and Planning
The Department of Geography and Planning promotes the understanding of the spatial dimensions of human behavior within the physical and cultural systems of the earth, and the role of planning in achieving improvement in those systems. The department offers degrees in geography and in community and regional planning. Learn more at geo.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Public Health
Appalachian State University’s Department of Public Health, housed in the Beaver College of Health Sciences, is dedicated to preparing students to promote and protect the health of individuals and communities through education, research and service. With a focus on rural and underserved populations, the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs equip future public health professionals with the skills needed to address real-world health challenges in North Carolina and beyond. Learn more at phes.appstate.edu/public-health.
By Lauren Gibbs
April 6, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
Dr. Maggie Sugg (top left), Dr. Jennifer Schroeder Tyson (top right), Dr. Shishir Shakya (bottom left), and Sarah Ulrich '24 (bottom right)
Dr. Maggie Sugg (top left), Dr. Jennifer Schroeder Tyson (top right), Dr. Shishir Shakya (bottom left), and Sarah Ulrich '24 (bottom right) authored a publication that has been recognized as the Journal of Rural Health's 2026 Article of the Year.