Exploring Rural Health

Today’s podcast features an interview with Amanda Kennedy, manager of the Mercy Virtual Substance Use Recovery Program. She tells us about Mercy’s award-winning RCORP-funded virtual outreach program and the obstacles they have overcome to provide seamless care to patients with substance use disorder. Part 2 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Inn...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Lincoln County Ambulance District Chief Ray Antonacci and Battalion Chief Sarah Czarnecki. They tell us about an award-winning RCORP-funded initiative allowing them to administer buprenorphine to incarcerated individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms. Part 1 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Casey Balio, PhD, research assistant professor at the East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, and Betty Bekemeier, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, director of the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice. They share new insights about the rural public health workforce from their recent article published in the Journal of Public Health...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Kathy Griffis, Chief Operating Officer of Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, TX. We learn about how they have developed routines and protocols to reduce violence and ensure safe healthcare environments for their staff and patients. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www....

Today’s podcast features an interview with Chris Laman, Vice President of Strategy at Columbia Memorial Hospital. We learn about the importance of developing and maintaining the rural allied health workforce. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/allied-health-mar-2026 Exploring Rural Health is an...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Joe Theine and Jen Gero, MD. We learn about community-based recruiting and how it benefits providers and patients alike. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/recruiting-feb-2026 Exploring Rural Health is an RHIhub podcast.

Today’s podcast features an interview with Dwain Harris, Chief Executive Officer of the National AHEC Organization, along with Brianna Sheppard, PhD, Director of West Virginia Area Health Education Centers, and Meredith Lair, Executive Director of the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center. We learn about Area Health Education Centers and how they help to ensure consistent healthcare profes...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Dr. Kevin Biese, Chair of the Board of the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Accreditation program, and Dr. Natalie Elder, Director of Geriatric Emergency Medicine for the Vermont Health Network. We learn about the Geriatric Emergency Department Certification program, and how it provides a roadmap for organizing and care for rur...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Dan Shane, PhD, Associate Professor with the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, about opportunities for applying technological advances in rural health and human services, potential challenges, and future avenues of development. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.rural...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD, co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, about the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/medical-debt-ja...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Stephanie Larson, PhD, an Associate with the Institute of Ethics at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and Devora Shapiro, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical Ethics at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, about creating ethically informed frameworks in rural healthcare in order to best serve rural patients. The...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Kristen Dillon, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Federal Office for Rural Health Policy. In this special National Rural Health Day episode, we get an overview of the current state of rural maternal health, including access barriers and disparities in health outcomes, as well as exploring the ways that the Health Resources and Services Administration is wo...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Matt Coleman, Director of the Kentucky State Office of Rural Health, as well as James VanCleave, Rural Project Manager, Veterans Services for the KORH. We learn about the importance of providing support to rural veterans in need of health services. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://w...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Krista Postai, CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, and Jason Wesco, President and Chief Strategy Officer of CHC/SEK. We learn about the community health center’s journey from a single facility operating out of a trailer to having 18 locations across the region that leverage community partnerships to address health-related social needs. The...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Jordan Berg, Principal Investigator for the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center. We discuss present and possible future applications for AI in healthcare, what AI is and isn’t good at, and how it can be especially beneficial for rural patients. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be f...

Today’s podcast features an interview with John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. We discuss rural health disruptors and rural availability of obstetrics and other essential services. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/essential-services-ju...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Amy Rosenfeld, Senior Research Director of the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, Jessica Dayton, Executive Director of the Chautauqua Safety Village, and Jane Strommen, PhD, a gerontology Specialist at North Dakota State University overseeing NDSU’s implementation of the Stepping On program. We discuss various types of unintentional injuries, s...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, Rani Snyder, Vice President for Program at John A. Hartford Foundation, and Jed Hansen, Executive Director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association. We discuss the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, the importance of ensuring rural health systems maintain accessibility for patients of all age...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Steve Simonin, President and CEO of Iowa Specialty Hospital and Clinics. We discuss ways healthcare systems can invest in their communities, strategies for ensuring long-term rural health sustainability, and the importance of maintaining communication with state and federal support systems. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentione...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Jennifer Conner, PhD, American Heart Association (AHA) Vice President of Rural Health Southwest Region, and Jessica Black, AHA’s National Vice President of Community Health. Also joining us is Dianne Connery, Director of the Pottsboro Texas Area Public Library. We discuss trends in rural heart health, the impact of several recent national AHA health initi...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Catherine Ipsen, PhD, and Rayna Sage, PhD, co-directors of the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities at the University of Montana. We discuss problems facing rural people with disabilities, and the support systems enabling them to establish and maintain independence. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentio...

Today’s podcast features an interview with James Small, Rural EMS Outreach Director for the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. We discuss workforce shortages facing rural EMS and strategies that can be used to maintain and improve their services. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/ems-dec-2023 ....

Today’s podcast includes two interviews leading up to National Rural Health Day on November 16th. Features Tammy Norville, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) CEO, and Jason Lillich, Executive Director of Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, a 2023 National Rural Health Day Community Star. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations me...

Today’s podcast features an interview with David Lipsetz, President and CEO of the Housing Assistance Council. We discuss housing in rural communities, and the organizations and programs helping to make it sustainable. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode can be found at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/podcast/housing-oct-2023 .   Exploring Rural Healt...

Today’s podcast features an interview with Governor Ernie Fletcher, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Fletcher Group, and Erica Walker, Outreach and Engagement Specialist for the Fletcher Group. We discuss recovery housing in rural communities, and the different levels of support it can provide to clients. The transcript and a list of resources and organizations mentioned in the episode...