Alexander County Veterans Officer Featured in State Medical Journal

October 20, 2026 - 22:25

Alexander County Veterans Service Officer Cherry Kilby has been recognized for her work on rural veterans' health with the publication of her article in the Fall 2026 issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal. The piece, titled "The Quiet Crisis: A Call for Community-Embedded Solutions for Rural Veterans," appears in the journal's special issue focused on rural health.

Kilby's article addresses the challenges rural veterans face when seeking health care, including long travel distances to facilities, limited broadband access for telehealth appointments, and a shortage of providers trained to address military-specific conditions. She argues that solutions designed at the community level, rather than imposed from state or federal agencies, are more likely to succeed in places where local trust and familiarity matter most.

The piece highlights the role of veterans service officers as trusted points of contact who can connect former service members to benefits and care that they may not know exist. Kilby draws on her experience in Alexander County to illustrate how partnerships between county offices, local clinics, and community organizations can close gaps that larger systems overlook.

The North Carolina Medical Journal is a peer-reviewed publication read by physicians, public health officials, and policymakers across the state. Inclusion in its rural health issue places Kilby's perspective before an audience positioned to influence how resources are directed to underserved communities. County officials said the recognition reflects years of advocacy on behalf of veterans who often struggle in silence.