Health on the Plains

In this episode of Health on the Plains , Wyatt Beckman sits down with Chef Steve Smith, the innovative culinary mind behind a fresh approach to food and healing at  Smith County Memorial Hospital , in Kansas. Chef Steve shares how he’s transforming hospital dining by creating customized, nutritious meals designed to support patient health — a model rooted in the belief that food is medicine. His...

Wyatt Beckman takes us to Logan, Kansas, to visit with Logan Intergenerational Family Education (LIFE) Center leaders, David Kirkendall and Teresa McComb. The first-of-its-kind center brings together students and nursing home residents to improve educational outcomes, create a greater sense of belonging and purpose among residents, and serve as a valuable resource for the entire community. 

In episode 14 of Health on the Plains, Wyatt Beckman visits Abilene to talk with Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, about how positivity, pride and collaboration fuel rural community growth. Hear how Abilene attracts opportunities for health and beyond.  

On Health on the Plains, episode 13, Wyatt Beckman takes us down the road in Topeka, to visit Sunflower Foundation leaders Brandon Skidmore and Elizabeth Burger. They discuss the history of the foundation and their new home on Healing Hill. They share their vision for improving the health of all Kansans by investing in people, places and ideas. They touch on some of their major projects, such as t...

In part two of our conversation with Robert Moser, M.D., Health on the Plains host Wyatt Beckman discusses with Dr. Moser the potential of telemedicine and the importance of maternal health care in rural communities. They talk about the unique challenges of maintaining obstetrics skills among rural health professionals and the unique dynamics of physician recruitment in rural communities. This epi...

On Health on the Plains, episode 11, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to our very own Kansas Health Institute studio, for the first half of our visit with Robert Moser, M.D., who heads the Kansas Center for Rural Health. Dr. Moser discusses his experiences as a rural Kansan, practicing rural Kansas physician, county health director, cabinet secretary, founder of a rurally focused patient safety...

On Health on the Plains, episode 10, Host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Hutchinson, Kansas, to visit with Benjamin Anderson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He emphasizes the need to develop leadership in rural health care. He addresses meeting the health care needs of the community while keeping work-life balance in focus and highlights innovations to improve populatio...

On Episode 9, host Wyatt Beckman returns to Liberal, Kansas to meet Kay Burtzloff, founder and president of the Liberal Area Coalition for Families. She discusses the creation of the coalition and its continued success of acquiring grant funds and investing in programs to benefit southwest Kansans. Find out how a rural coalition approaches planning for the future.

On Episode 8, host Wyatt Beckman take listeners to Inman, Kansas, to visit with Marci Penner and Sarah Green, co-directors of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, to learn how the foundation is working to sustain rural culture by promoting communities and resources that highlight the unique stories of Kansans.

On Episode 7, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Liberal, Kansas to meet Clarissa Carrillo Martinez, a multifaceted, dynamic community leader in southwest Kansas. She shares her personal experiences growing up in Liberal and serving the community, highlighting the importance of understanding and learning from the unique blend of cultures in southwest Kansas. 

On Episode 6, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners on a look back at the first five episodes of Health on the Plains. Since the show got started in September 2023, we’ve heard from a wide range of leaders and doers in rural Kansas, as they’ve addressed the health-related needs in their communities. Guests have shared not just the challenges, but how they’re tackling issues head on and seeing success...

On Episode 5, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to McPherson, Kansas, to meet Bluestem PACE Executive Director Emilie Rains. We get a look at the innovative PACE model, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and what it can mean for rural Kansans. Emilie discusses the organization’s unique approach to helping older adults live in their homes and communities, while also pr...

On Episode 4, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, in northeast Kansas. He visits with Tribal Council Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, who shares the importance of honoring the Nation’s past while paving a way towards improved health for its members now and for the future. Chairman Rupnick shares how the Nation addressed the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects on the...

On Episode 3, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he talks with Dan Duling, Vice President of Community Partnerships for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Dan shares his journey from educator to health care leadership. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in rural Kansas to grow a health center that meets the needs of its patients and leverages commun...

On Episode 2, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Allen County, Kansas where he talks with Lisse Regehr, President and CEO of Thrive Allen County. She shares how her rural health advocacy organization is working relentlessly to make Allen County the healthiest rural community in the state - one that thrives physically, socially, emotionally and fiscally. Hear how Thrive Allen County is pursuing...