This Is Rural Health

What happens when hospitals are asked to do more with less—while navigating sweeping legislative changes, funding uncertainty, and growing regulatory pressure? In this episode of the California State Rural Health Association Podcast, Dietmar Grellmann breaks down the policy landscape that will shape the future of healthcare in California, with major implications for rural hospitals and the communi...

Rural healthcare is facing one of its most pivotal moments in decades. With major Medicaid changes, a historic $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, workforce shortages, and growing pressure on hospitals and providers, the decisions being made in Washington today will shape the future of rural communities for years to come. In this episode, we sit down with a leading policy expert from the...

Dr. Ramiro Zúñiga, Chief Medical Officer for Health Net Medi-Cal, brings nearly three decades of experience as a board-certified family physician serving rural and underserved communities across California. At Health Net, he co-leads contractual, compliance, and regulatory efforts for the Medi-Cal line of business while providing strategic and operational direction for quality improvement, utiliza...

Dr. Wade Banner is a California-board-certified dentist and founder of In Motion Dentists, one of the few practices delivering comprehensive, in-home care—everything from cleanings to crowns and root canals—for seniors, homebound patients, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also operates a specialized brick-and-mortar clinic in La Verne built for accessibility and beha...

JD Garza is the Associate Director of the California Area Health Education Center (AHEC), hosted at UCSF Fresno, and a board member of the National AHEC Organization. His career centers on partnering with community organizations to serve medically underserved communities.  In this episode, JD breaks down how AHEC recruits, trains, and retains health professionals for rural and underserved are...

Ingrid Villeda is a Program & Community Engagement Specialist at the Alzheimer’s Association (Northern CA & Northern NV). She’s spent 8+ years serving older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers—especially in Latino and rural communities—building partnerships and delivering bilingual education that actually reaches families. In this episode, Ingrid breaks down what Alzheimer’s i...

Kristy Bird MaKieve is the founder and CEO of Healthy Rural California , a nonprofit transforming healthcare access in Northern California’s underserved communities. A social entrepreneur and medical society leader, Kristy is spearheading graduate medical education programs, residency training, and innovative partnerships to address the rural physician shortage head-on. In this episode, Kristy sha...

Nate Sundheimer—Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Director of Digital & Tech Strategy at Wipfli—joins CSRHA to demystify AI for rural healthcare leaders. With deep roots in healthcare innovation and a mission to make tech practical, Nate delivers a sharp, no-fluff session on how AI can empower rural providers to do more with less. This episode dives into real-world, nonclinical AI applications th...

Kirsten Storne-Piazza is a licensed therapist, healthcare executive, and director of psychiatric programs at Orchard Hospital in rural Northern California. A passionate advocate for mental wellness in healthcare, she’s leading the development of a new inpatient youth psychiatric facility and actively works with first responders and rural health organizations to combat burnout and compassion fatigu...

Holly Laird, Rural and Disability Equity Lead at the California Department of Public Health, is on a mission to reframe how state systems engage with rural communities. A lifelong advocate with deep roots in local and state public health, Holly led the first-ever Rural Health Equity Landscape Analysis at CDPH—a powerful blueprint for how the government can better serve communities historically sid...

What if the key to solving our aging crisis lies not in city halls but in rural towns—and in elevating the voices of those who’ve been overlooked for too long? In this powerful episode, we welcome Karol Swartzlander , Executive Director of the California Commission on Aging , a 24-year veteran in long-term services, aging policy, and state advocacy. From driving legislative wins to revolutionizing...

Brock Slabach on Reimagining Rural Health Care from the Ground Up | CSRHA 2025 Conference Brock Slabach, COO of the National Rural Health Association, brings over two decades of frontline experience to the stage at the 2025 CSRHA Conference. A third-generation Kansas farmer turned policy leader, Brock has become a national force in rural health innovation and advocacy. In this episode, Brock outli...

In this compelling panel discussion, host Shelly Brantley , Board Member of the California State Rural Health Association, brings together the powerhouse team behind UC Berkeley’s groundbreaking Rural Health Innovation Program . You'll hear from program founder and nationally recognized rural health leader Lynn Barr , faculty director Kim MacPherson , and two dynamic scholars blazing new trails in...

In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg is joined by Dr. Steven Sust and Dr. Jonathan Updike, child and adolescent psychiatrists from Stanford University, to discuss mental health challenges faced by rural Indigenous youth. The conversation covers the role of integrated and telepsychiatry care models, the importance of early intervention and support systems post-suicide inc...

In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg, past president of the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA), introduces new board member Dr. Lily Lau.  Dr. Lau shares her background, role as the chief clinical officer at Momentous Health, and her dedication to improving cognitive healthcare services through telehealth. They discuss the challenges and solutions in...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. In this episode, Denise Pimintel, System Manager for the Clinical Team at Common Spirit Telehealth Network, and Dr. Parimal T. Bharucha, a pulmonology and critical care specialist, share their insights on the challenges and...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we spotlight Abhiram Reddy, one of the California State Rural Health Association's newest board members. The episode, hosted by Scott Hertzberg, past president of CSRHA, delves into Abhiram's background, his passion for rural health, and his journey from a university student at UC Santa Cruz to a dedicated board member.  Abhiram shares personal anecd...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. Dr. Borowsky highlights the All of Us study, which aims to collect comprehensive health data from participants across the U.S. and return actionable genetic and health information to them. Dr. Borowsky also discusses the exc...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," host Scott Hertzberg from the California State Rural Health Association introduces and welcomes new board member Elena Francisco. Elena, who has a long career as a dental hygienist, shares her passion for music, expressing her desire to return to playing the piano and guitar in retirement. The conversation delves into Elena's journey and dedication to imp...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. We were privileged to have Brock Slabach, the Chief Operating Officer of the National Rural Health Association, discuss federal updates, future programs, and the unique challenges rural communities face. Brock shared insight...

In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg introduces Shelly Brantley, a seasoned public health professional and a new California State Rural Health Association board member. Shelly, who also serves as a project director at RISE, shares her valuable experiences and insights on the Rural Initiative Strengthening Equity (RISE), a California Health Collaborative program funded by...

In this episode, Michel Schneider, President of the California State Rural Health Association, alongside her board colleague Elena Francisco, speaks with Dr. Elisa Chávez, a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. They discuss the significance of collaboration and partnership in improving access to oral healthcare f...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. This episode features a thought-provoking discussion by Dr. Michael Frackin on the importance of individualized palliative care for those with serious illnesses. His insights on the impact of palliative care on patient quali...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. The episode features Dr. Kristin Hoeft, Director of the California Oral Health Technical Assistance Center, who shares insights into oral health challenges for rural communities. She also shares California's strategic plans...

In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. In this episode, We hear from Alanna Bares, MD, MPH, from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and Yvette Nonato, MD, DPBRM, FPARM, from the Department of Pesticide Regulation. They shed light on the crucial...