Episodes

What assistance is available to help rural providers afford internet upgrades? Blythe Albert from the Universal Service Administrative Company joined us to discuss the universal service fund. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, become a member of The Virginia Rural Health Association! Member benefits include a weekly e-newsletter with regulation updates, resources, & funding opportunities, and discounts for events like our upcoming Rural Health Voice Conference in Nov...

What do tick bites and federal policy have in common? Sharon Forsyth of the Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund joined us to discuss the resources they have available. On September 24, 2025, Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) became reportable to the Virginia Department of Health. Learn more about AGS and its impacts in Virginia during a special breakout session at the 2026 Rural Health Voice Conference. Alpha-Gal Alliance https://alphagalalliance.org/ VDH Fact Sheet https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiolog...

What is the importance of evaluating rural health programs?  Michael Meit, director of the ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research, joined us to discuss the benefits and complications of rural health evaluation. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join VRHA at the Rural Health Voice Conference this November – https://vrha.org/conference2026/

What is Virginia Relay and how does it help both patients and providers? Brittany Howard of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing joined us to discuss the services they provide. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, check out VRHA’s upcoming Rural Health Voice Conference in Danville, VA on November 18 & 19 – https://vrha.org/conference2026/

What is needed to support recovery? Shauna Tilson from the Appalachian Center for Hope joined us to discuss their plan to address substance use disorders in Southwest Virginia. If you want learn more about the history and causes of Medical Mistrust and how to address it, check out the book Medical Mistrust in Appalachia.

What does it take to become a Community Health Worker? Leslie Clark from the United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge joined us to discuss CHW training and services. During this episode we discuss the use of CHW’s to decrease medical mistrust. If you would like to learn more about this topic, check out the new book Medical Mistrust in Appalachia: Helping Patients and Providers Communicate with Cultural Humility, edited by Wendy Welch and Beth O’Connor.

Most of us have heard of Medical Debt – but what is Undue Medical Debt? Dr. Eva Stahl of the Undue Medical Debt organization joined RHV to discuss what they are doing to help both patients and healthcare providers deal with medical debt. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, check out the recently released book: Medical Mistrust in Appalachia. Half of the net proceeds will support VRHA.

Why would you need an occupational therapist? Savanah Howe and Tara Riddle joined the RHV podcast to discuss the need for occupational therapy in rural communities and the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association. If you want to be part of the conversation on rural health, follow the Virginia Rural Health Association on Facebook and LinkedIn: @varuralhealth https://www.linkedin.com/company/varuralhealth/

What issues do Trans patients face in rural communities? Former VRHA Board member Dove Standley and her husband Tatum joined RHV to discuss the extra precautions they have to take when seeking care. If you want to learn more about concerns for rural Trans patients, check out Dove & Tatum’s chapter in the book: Medical Mistrust in Appalachia.

How can disparities in birth outcomes be addressed? Femeika Elliot & Alexis Alsup joined RHV to discuss their work and the recommendations they have to improve maternal health. If you want to learn more from Femeika & Alexis, check out their chapter in the upcoming book: Medical Mistrust in Appalachia – https://utpress.org/9798895270486/medical-mistrust-in-appalachia/

How did the push to standardize medicine impact public health? Pharmacist and Herbalist Marybeth Babos joined us to discuss some of the history of medical mistrust. If you want to learn more about Medical Mistrust, pre-order the new book Medical Mistrust in Appalachia: Helping Patients and Providers Communicate with Cultural Humility, edited by Wendy Welch and VRHA Executive Director Beth O’Connor: https://utpress.org/9798895270486/medical-mistrust-in-appalachia/

What are the gaps in Virginia’s primary care workforce? Hannah Shadowen and Alex Krist of VCU joined me to discuss their recent research on neighborhood differences in primary care. If you are a health professions or public policy student with an interest in rural health, apply to be a representative to the VRHA board of directors. Applications for student board members are being accepted now: https://vrha.org/students/

Why would a medical student make a poster? Brittany Blitstein and Ranjit Virk, Medical students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine joined us to discuss their involvement in the Community Nourishment Project and what they learned. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join VRHA and other rural health leaders from around the country at the National Rural Health Association’s annual conference: https://www.ruralhealth.us/events/schedule/annual-rural-health-c...

What are the alternatives to traditional employer-based insurance? Justin Ayars of EqualityMD joined us to discuss concerns and solutions for affordable health care. If you want to be part of the conversation on rural health, check us out on Facebook and LinkedIn – https://www.facebook.com/VaRuralHealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/virginia-rural-health-association

What can you do to support economic development in Appalachia? Emma Kelly of Appalachian Voices joined RHV to discuss the information they have available and how you can get involved. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join the VRHA staff in San Diego May 19-22 for the National Rural Health Association annual conference.

What can be done to be sure our Vintage Virginians can live healthy lives for as long as possible? Pete Fronte of Altura Health joined RHV to discuss what patients and providers can do to maximize the quality of life in their golden years. More resources for aging in place: http://www.upright.altura.health/

What happens if we lose tax credits for insurance? Lauren Aronson from Keep Americans Covered joined RHV to discuss concerns about the loss of tax credits and how you can get involved. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join VRHA in Washington, DC February 10-12 for the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Institute. Be part of our delegation from Virginia in meeting with members of Congress and their staff.

What resources are available for individuals with disabilities and their families? Rayna Sage from the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities and Debe Fults of the disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area, Inc. joined RHV to discuss the connection between research in Montana and services in the Rappahannock Area. Resources: DARS – https://www.dars.virginia.gov/ NCIL https://ncil.org APRIL https://www.april-rural.org Virginia worker map: https://storymaps.arc...

Do rural young adults need to leave rural communities to find meaningful work? Crystal Hunnicutt, Director of Southwest Operations for the Department of Nurse Anesthesia at the VCU College of Health Professions joined RHV to discuss rural leadership development. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join VRHA and other rural health advocates from around the country at the National Rural Health Association’s Policy Institute February 10-12

What are the best practices for oral health in rural communities? Piper Martin of the National Rural Health Association joined me to discuss their Rural Oral Health Initiative. Additional links: VRHA’s Rural Health Voice Conference NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute

Who gets to make decisions on healthcare policy? Mike Pruitt – Candidate for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, joined RHV to discuss how he wants to represent the area. Related links: If you are running for a Virginia Congressional seat and want to be considered for a podcast interview, email staff@vrha.org with a request Rural Health Voice conference, November 19 & 20 at the Wintergreen Resort National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Institute

What can you do to educate elected officials and other policy makers about oral health issues? Ben Barber of the Virginia Health Catalyst joined RHV to discuss the Healthy Virginia Blueprint Coming up: October 17: Catalyst Annual Summit – Richmond November 19-20: Rural Health Voice Conference – Wintergreen Resort

What do Virginia college students need to know about voting in the upcoming elections? Eireann Maybach, VRHA intern joined RHV to discuss her perspective as a political science major. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join us September 17th in Danville for the National Rural Assembly and November 19 & 20 at the Wintergreen Resort for the Rural Health Voice conference. Virginia Voters Website: https://cardinalnews.org/virginia-voter-guide/

Who should participate in a Clinical Trial and why? Dr. Linda Duska and Claudette Grant from the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center joined RHV to discuss the myths and facts of clinical trials. Links: UVA Community Outreach & Engagement Clinical Trials Toolkit ClinicalTrials.gov RHV podcast episode on HPV