Montana State University alumna Alicia Crane won a 2025 National Area Health Education Center Organization Alumni/Advocate of the Year Award this winter to honor her efforts supporting rural health care in the Treasure State.
The annual award recognizes individuals who demonstrate sustained, exceptional service in support of the AHEC mission. AHEC is an organization that receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Crane is one of three people nationwide to receive the award in 2025.
The Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center, based at MSU, nominated Crane for her leadership in rural health care, mentorship of future providers and longstanding support of the AHEC Scholars program at MSU.
Crane, a family nurse practitioner, is a primary care provider at the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation School-Based Health Clinic based in Lame Deer and Busby, where she delivers essential primary care and health education in one of Montana’s most rural regions.
“In my current work serving the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, I see every day how vital AHEC’s mission is,” Crane said. “This award feels like a meaningful affirmation of our collective efforts to expand health care equity in rural and tribal communities.”
Crane, who is from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2018 and Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2024 from MSU’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing.
During her time in the DNP program, Crane completed clinical rotations in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation school-based clinic. The relationships she built during that time were so meaningful to her that she chose to continue working there after graduation.
“I felt called to stay and continue caring for the kids and families there,” Crane said.
Sarah Shannon, dean of the MSU nursing college, commended Crane’s efforts to improve the health of Montanans.
“Dr. Crane delivers essential primary care and health education in one of Montana’s most rural regions. Her work reflects both clinical expertise and a commitment to accessible care,” Shannon said. “Her work reinforces the principle that ‘where you train is where you remain,’ and her career is a testament to that truth as she continues to strengthen Montana’s rural health workforce and expand opportunities for future providers.”
Also during school, Crane was an Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Scholar in MSU’s Rural Ready Nurse Practitioner Program, where she learned about key resources meant to support the transition from student to rural health care provider. She now plays a key role in preparing the next generation of rural nurse practitioners as a mentor in the program and as a preceptor for MSU students doing clinical rotations at the Northern Cheyenne clinic.
“I’ve been involved in supporting students through education and mentorship focused on rural practice,” Crane said. “I’ve helped with simulation and learning experiences that prepare students for real-life rural care — where resources are limited, teamwork matters and flexibility is essential. I continue to support AHEC’s broader goal of strengthening Montana’s rural health care workforce.
“Montana AHEC has played a huge role in shaping me as a provider and mentor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving students and communities through this work,” she said.
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