Rural Health Leadership Radio™

Looking to test your knowledge of rural health? This episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio is exactly what you need! Join Sydney and Bill as they put their rural health expertise to the test with a series of trivia questions. Covering topics from community health workers to rural health clinics, this episode is full of learning. Listen in, play along, and see how much you know about rural healt...

Securing a healthier future for rural communities begins with the engagement of our younger generations. This week, we're thrilled to host three emerging leaders on Rural Health Leadership Radio: Jenah McCarty, Hallie Vonk, and Nick Lembezeder. These graduate students from the University of Iowa's College of Public Health share their journey in founding the inaugural Student Association for Rural...

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Karen Cheeseman, CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, shares her journey from an HR role to leading a hospital system. In our discussion with Karen, she highlights collaborative relationships in the communities Mackinac Straights Health System serves including how they integrate tribal medicine into a small hosp...

On this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we welcome Elise Bur, Director of the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health. In our conversation, Elise discusses several key initiatives of the Center for Rural Health, including the feasibility of a dental hygienist program to address local needs, an oral health literacy program, and community health worker training to expand essen...

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we're talking with Frank Brabec, CEO of Brabec Healthcare Management and President of the Imperial Valley Coalition for Sustainable Healthcare Facilities in California. We discuss the significance of community collaboration and how rural communities can come together to face health challenges. Frank shares more about the Imperial Valley Coalition f...

This Rural Health Leadership Radio episode features a conversation with Dr. Matt Seeger,  Distinguished University Professor at Wayne State University, who has extensively studied organizational behavior, communication, and crisis management and response. Dr. Seeger shares his unique story as an undergraduate student deeply affected by a tragedy and how that led him to become a leading expert in c...

This week, we are discussing how executive coaching can be used as a tool for rural health leaders to live up to their highest potential. On this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio Bill & Sydney bring us back to our mission to engage rural health leaders in conversations, learning, and research.  "Coaching can make an incredible difference, make the investment!" -Bill Auxier We discuss leade...

Rural communities in the U.S. are diverse, full of innovation, and each face their own unique health challenges. In this episode, we discuss some less commonly discussed rural health topics with Amy Elizondo, the Chief Strategy Officer for the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). In our conversation we discuss topics such as oral health, the scarcity of dentists in rural areas, behavioral hea...

This week on Rural Health Leadership Radio, we are sharing exciting information about the launch of a new program designed to enhance rural health managers' skills. In this episode, hosts Bill Auxier and Sydney Grant discuss the upcoming Rural Health Management Academy!  "The Rural Health Management Academy helps managers become better leaders " -Dr. Bill Auxier Tune in to hear insights into the 1...

Health policies play a crucial role in shaping the well-being of rural populations. On Rural Health Leadership Radio, we love to learn about significant policies affecting rural communities and ways to engage in advocacy. In this episode, we have a conversation with Carrie Cochran-McClain, the Chief Policy Officer for the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), to gain insights into the impactfu...

Looking for a captivating book to start the year? Look no further! In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we are joined by Dr. Tim Putnam, DHA, EMT, FACHE, and a former CEO of a critical access hospital. Tim's the lead author of Healthcare Leadership and Rural Communities , along with contributing authors Nikki King and Bill Auxier. Tim shares insights into his career journey and how it...

Happy New Year! We are ringing in 2024 by having a conversation on the importance of healthcare access to the well-being of rural communities.  This week we welcome Jaquesha Jefferson, a Master of Public Health Candidate at Florida State University and current intern for the Center for Rural Health Leadership, to discuss her capstone research on rural healthcare access. In our conversation, Jaques...

As 2023 comes to a close, Co-Hosts Bill Auxier, PhD, and Sydney Grant, MHA are reflecting on this exciting year with the ever-growing community at Rural Health Leadership Radio.  Join us on this episode where Bill and Sydney share some of their favorite moments from 2023, ranging from insightful podcast interviews to the growth of the NRHA Certification Programs. Throughout our conversations this...

During this holiday season, it's wonderful to hear stories about strong leadership based on trust and love, and it's also wonderful to hear stories of inspiration.  Stories of miracles.  That's exactly what this special holiday episode is about.  Travis Udall is our guest, and he shares his story about his experiences as the CEO of a critical access hospital in rural Arizona.  Travis delves into t...

Recruiting and retaining employees is a top priority for most rural hospitals, and important to sustain the future of rural healthcare. Human Resource leaders across the U.S. are employing creative strategies to boost employee engagement. In this week's RHLR episode, Jenna Janu, HR Director at Glacial Ridge Health System in Glenwood, Minnesota, sheds light on her initiatives to address these issue...

Data-backed decision-making is crucial in healthcare, but it can often be challenging, especially for rural hospitals with limited resources. However, from this week's conversation on Rural Health Leadership Radio, we learned that using, analyzing, and understanding community health data is more than achievable for rural hospitals.  Join us this week as we engage in a conversation with Liz Craker,...

Successful rural hospitals often have the characteristics of strong leadership, a culture of teamwork, and community support. In our upcoming episode, we explore the strategies for achieving this with our guest, Natalie Ryder, who serves as the Hospital Administrator at Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital & Borgess Allegan Hospital in Allegan, Michigan. During this week's conversation on Rural Health L...

Collaboration and connection are aspects we often emphasize in rural health. The rural advantage allows us to collaborate with each other and uniquely connect with our communities.  Our guest this week on Rural Health Leadership Radio is no stranger to collaboration. We are delighted to share with you our conversation with Kevin Bennett, a Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Me...

We love to celebrate on Rural Health Leadership Radio, and this week is one of our favorite occasions of the year: National Rural Health Day on November 16th! Since 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has devoted the third Thursday of every November to spotlight rural health and pay tribute to rural communities. This week, we welcome Tammy Norville, CEO of NOS...

If you are a veteran, thank you for your service! In recognition of all veterans, Rural Health Leadership Radio is proud to publish this special episode to honor all veterans this Veterans Day Nearly a quarter of all U.S. veterans choose to live in rural areas upon their return from active military service. Rural communities offer strong community support and close-knit relationships, enhancing th...

Over the past decade, we've witnessed substantial declines in cancer prevalence nationwide. However, the reduction in cancer mortality and incidence has been notably slower in rural areas of the United States. To mitigate the rising trend of cancer incidence and prevalence in these regions, it's important to place emphasis on cancer prevention. In this week's episode, we delve into the importance...

It is so important to ensure future healthcare leaders have an understanding of rural health, and they can learn a lot in the process. One way to do so is to ensure students have the opportunity to learn about rural healthcare. Our next guest, Dr. Kristin Wilson Clinical Associate Professor and MHA Program Director at the University of Iowa, is excellently ensuring students are well-versed in rura...

Rural communities have long been touted for their remarkable resilience, and the same spirit is echoed in the hospitals in these communities. Many rural health leaders have a passion for serving the community they live in, and the resilience to keep healthcare accessible. Join us on this Episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, where we hear from a resilient leader herself, Lili Petricevic MBA, B...

On January 1st, 2023 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opened enrollment for a new hospital designation, Rural Emergency Hospitals. Last fall the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a final rule establishing criteria for a new Medicare provider type; Rural Emergency Hospitals. The REH designation was created in response to rural hospital closures, and the goal is to e...

There are countless remarkable aspects to growing up in a rural community, ranging from the tight-knit bonds within the community to the invaluable mentors. Childhood experiences are major predictors of future health, so how can we actively foster more positive childhood encounters in rural communities? Our next guest may just have the answer. This week on Rural Health Leadership Radio we welcome...