Arrington, Crane, and Muscarella named 2025 Alumni/Advocate of the Year Award winners

The National AHEC Organization (NAO) is pleased to recognize Walter Arrington, MSW; Dr.

Alicia Crane, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; and Mike Muscarella, PT as the 2025 Alumni/Advocate of the

Year Award recipients. Selected from across the national network, these individuals exemplify

sustained leadership and service, advancing education, mentorship, and community

partnerships that strengthen healthcare in the communities they serve.

Walter Arrington, MSW

Walter Arrington, MSW, nominated by West Florida AHEC in Glenview, Florida, is recognized

for his leadership in community healthcare innovation and program development across

Northwest Florida. A former AHEC Scholar, Arrington currently leads Advocacy and Special

Projects at Community Health Northwest Florida, where he spearheaded Florida’s first school-

based Mobile Optometry Clinic. The initiative provides free vision screenings and prescriptions

for children, while removing barriers to care and improving educational outcomes. His work

extends statewide and nationally through conference presentations, grant review service, and

board leadership at both the state and national levels.

“When I applied to be an AHEC Scholar, I was a student driven by a strong desire to support

people without stable access to care,” Arrington said. “AHEC showed me how to use my lived

experiences to inform my work in advocacy and healthcare, and how collaboration and

teamwork can turn personal stories into meaningful, positive change.”

Dr. Alicia Crane, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Dr. Alicia Crane, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, is honored for her leadership in rural healthcare and her

commitment to mentoring future providers. Nominated by Montana AHEC in Bozeman,

Montana, Dr. Crane currently serves as the primary provider at the Northern Cheyenne Indian

Reservation School-Based Health Clinic, delivering essential primary care and health education

in her own community. An alumna of the Montana AHEC Scholars program, she now mentors

students in Montana State University’s Rural Ready Nurse Practitioner Program, helping

prepare the next generation of clinicians for practice in rural settings.

“Being part of AHEC shaped my passion for rural practice and reinforced the importance of

training close to the community,” Dr. Crane said. “This recognition affirms the value of investing

in people who are committed to serving where they are most needed.”

Mike Muscarella, PT

Mike Muscarella, PT, is honored for over two decades of dedication to student mentorship and

community partnership in western Kentucky. A physical therapist by training, Muscarella has

guided countless students through career exploration, résumé development, and early

professional decision-making. His hands-on approach and longstanding support for health

professions programs have strengthened local workforce pathways and inspired students to

pursue and sustain careers close to home.

Anne Hess, health career coordinator at Purchase AHEC in Murray, Kentucky, nominated

Muscarella and describes him as a champion of health advocacy, saying “Mike has played a

key role in the success of health professions programs at our local institutions and serves as ambassador for our community, consistently seeking opportunities to inspire the next

generation.”

Dwain Harris, NAO CEO, emphasized the importance of the Alumni/Advocate of the Year

Award and highlighted the shared contributions of this year’s recipients. "Our Alumni/Advocates

of the Year embody the true spirit of the AHEC mission. We are grateful for them and are

honored to share their commitment to improving healthcare by cultivating the next generation of

health professionals," he said.

The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program is a national initiative created by Congress

in 1971 to recruit, train, and retain a health professions workforce committed to improving

healthcare access in underserved areas. Through education, training, and mentorship grounded

in community-based learning and collaborative partnerships, AHECs help prepare a skilled

workforce to meet local and regional healthcare needs.

Today, nearly 300 AHECs serve communities across 44 states and six U.S. territories,

strengthening pathways into health careers and supporting care delivery nationwide.

Visit nationalahec.org or email info@nationalahec.org to learn more.