The Appalachian Rural Health Institute (ARHI) is an interdisciplinary health services and research institute at Ohio University. Sharing the recognition that Ohio University is uniquely positioned to address critical rural health issues, ARHI was established by a team of researchers and staff members from the Office of the Vice President for Research, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Edison Biotechnology Institute, the Voinovich School for Leadership and Public Affairs, the College of Communication, and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Institute and its name were officially approved by the Ohio University Board of Trustees in September, 2003.