The Rural Health Voice

Why would someone running for Lt. Governor bother to visit far Southwest Virginia?  Delegate Sam Rasoul joined The Rural Health Voice to discuss the importance of serving all Virginians. The Rural Health Voice and the Virginia Rural Health Association are nonpartisan.  If there is a state-level candidate you think we should hear from, have the campaign contact us at staff@vrha.org If you want to b...

How are substance use disorders related to stimulants different or similar from opioids?  Dr. Richard Rawson, Research Professor at Vermont Center for Behavior and Health joined me to discuss stimulants and how we can do a better job with treatment. You can review Dr. Rawson’s slides from his presentation at the recent ACOR Summit . If you want to be part of the conversation about rural heal...

What can healthcare providers do to assure that LGBTQIA+ people have a safe and welcoming environment?  Artist KT Taylor joined RHV to discuss their research on rural communities. Additional resources:  VRHA’s Pride of Rural Virginia Not Alone, Never Was Rural Queer History Not Alone Daily Yonder interview of KT Taylor Farm Boys – Lives of Gay Men from the Rural Midwest

With all the talk about the COVID vaccine, have we forgotten about other vaccines?  Dr. Ferdaus Hassan, Medical Science Liaison with Sanofi Pasteur joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss meningitis and the need to get vaccinated.   World Meningitis Day is April 24 th . VRHA is one of the co-sponsors of the upcoming Appalachian Communities Opioid Response Summit .  Join us online May 19 th ! &#16...

What is the connection between workforce and health?  Marty Holiday, Executive Director of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board joined The Rural Health Voice to discuss their new initiative to get people back on a career path. If you want to be part of the conversation about substance use disorders, join the Appalachian Communities Opioid Response summit .  It will be hosted virt...

Why is it important to talk to your family members about their health history?  Mindy Conklin joined The Rural Health Voice to discuss the efforts of her nonprofit “ Hitting Cancer Below the Belt ” and the risk factors you should consider for colorectal cancer.

What does the Black Death in the 1300s have to do with how we react to COVID today?  Historian Don Leech joined me to discuss The History of Conspiracies. Don is a contributing author for the book Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories .

How can technology improve healthcare access?  Donna Dittman Hale, Executive Director of the Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance joined The Rural Health Voice to discuss plugging into telehealth. Ms. Hale was one of the speakers at the recent Rural Health Voice conference.  To view the video presentation that led to this interview, visit the Rural Health Voice conference and register for the event.  Yo...

How does racism contribute to poor health outcomes?  Dr. Kevin Harris from Virginia Commonwealth University joined me to discuss health inequities. Dr. Harris was one of the speakers at our recent Rural Health Voice conference .  To view the video presentation that led to this interview, visit VRHA.org, select Rural Health Voice conference under the events tab, and register for the event.  You can...

How will the recent changes in Congress and the Presidency impact rural healthcare?  Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss his view of Capitol Hill. NRHA is the host of the upcoming Rural Health Policy Institute .  the Rural Health Voice encourages you to join that event. Mr. Morgan was one of the speakers at our recent Rural Health Voic...

What’s going on at the Virginia Department of Health to make improvements in our rural communities?  Dr. Norm Oliver, State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health joined me to discuss the Virginia State Rural Health Plan. To view the video presentation that led to this interview, register for the Rural Health Voice conference.  You can choose to just watch Dr. Oliver, or all five of ou...

How does the way hospitals get paid reinforce healthcare disparities?  Dr. Amol Navathe joined RHV to discuss the need for payment reform and how the current system enables problems. Dr. Navathe’s editorial: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/opinion/medical-racism-payment-models.html 

Why do some people have big concerns about vaccinations?  Anna Muldon joined RHV to discuss the anti-vaxx movement and its implications for addressing COVID.  Anna is a contributing author to the book  Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories , due out soon.

Why don’t we grow more of our own food?  Amyrose Foll, Founder of the Virginia Free Farm joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss how they are assuring that Virginian’s have access to healthy food. More information: RVA Agriculture Richmond Food Justice   If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, make sure you check out the Virginia Rural Health Association on Facebook , Twitt...

What the heck is an AHEC?  Aileen Edwards Harris, Executive Director of the Capital Area Health Education Center gives us the answer. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, check out the Rural Health Voice Conference . Other resources from this episode: National AHEC Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority National Association of Minority Educators (NAMME)   &#...

Are conspiracies about COVID fact or fiction?  Ashley Reynolds Marshall, Executive Director, YWCA of Central Virginia joined me to discuss how mistrust of public health initiatives is sometimes well-earned.  Ashley is a contributing author to the book  Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories , due out soon. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join the Rural Health Voice annual conf...

How does racial bias impact pregnancy and childbirth for African American women?  Kenda Sutton-El, Co-Executive Director at Birth In Color RVA joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss health inequities in maternal health If you want to hear more about this issue in our rural communities, join the Rural Health Voice Conference .  Speaker Kevin Harris will be providing a presentation on Racism as a...

What can you do if dealing with COVID has got you down?  Craig Camidge, Director of the Office of Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services   joined me to discuss the crisis counseling that is available free from Virginia COPES. Virginia C.O.P.E.S. has Crisis Counselors  available during the following times to take calls. Monday-Friday 9am-9p...

What has been the impact of COVID for persons with substance use disorders?  Mike Wade, Coordinator of Community Wellness and Outreach at New River Valley Community Services joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss the spike in overdoses and what can be done going forward. If you need information on how to receive Narcan in the New River Valley, contact NRVCS .  For other areas of Virginia, contac...

In recent years, the Virginia Rural Health Association has become increasingly concerned of the health inequities that are the reality for minority populations in rural Virginia.  African American women in Virginia are three times more likely to die after giving birth than white women. To address these disparities, we are proud to support the “ Mothers and Newborns Success Act ” proposed by Senato...

What are some of the needs for dental health in rural areas?  Sarah Raskin,PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs , VCU and member of the iCubed Initiative, Oral Health Core joined the Rural Health Voice to discuss dental sealants and other oral health needs.  You can also review Dr. Raskin’s study “ Parents’ Experiences wit...

What considerations do urban providers have to make when rural patients travel to see them?  Veronica Bernacchi, BSN, RN, PCCN joined The Rural Health Voice to discuss what she has learned about providing healthcare as a PhD student in nursing at the University of Virginia. Ms. Vernacci was the winner of VRHA’s 2019 scholarship conference.  Read her winning essay here . If you are a student...

How do medical supplies get to remote rural communities during a pandemic?  They fly!  Jess Ames, Outreach and Events Director, for Angel Flight East joined me to discuss a unique delivery method. Angel Flight East (AFE) Transporting PPE to Areas in Need Angel Flight East has recently partnered with several groups to provide face shields and hand sanitizer to health facilities (please see details...

What data can be used to address the opioid crisis?  Michael Meit, Senior Fellow, co-director for N-O-R-C Wash Center for Rural Health Analysis joined me to discuss the Appalachian Overdose Mapping Tool and its follow up, the   National Opioid Misuse Community Assessment Tool That’s Michael Meit advocating for community based solutions to Substance Use Disorders.  When we recorded this episode, Mi...

What happens to group therapy sessions in a time of social distancing?  Patricia Helton, Substance Abuse Counselor from Mount Rogers Community Services joined RHV to discuss how people are addressing behavioral health issues in this environment. Resources: Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Behavioral Health Hub Directory of Virginia’s Community Services Boards National Alliance on Ment...