Episodes

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 conference. Correction: in the podcast, Mrs. Marshall inadvertently states that the participants of the Tu...

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 Public Health Crisis. Until then – make sure you get your flu shot!

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-9pm and on Saturday-Sunday from 5pm-9pm. VA C.O.P.E.S can be reached by phone or text at 877-349-6428. Spanis...

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, contact the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition.

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 Senator Tim Kaine. This episode of the Rural Health Voice podcast is the recording of a virtual press confer...

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 with a School-based Dental Sealant Project in Central Appalachia” If you want to be part of the conversation about rural hea...

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 that is interested in rural health issues, note that membership in the Virginia Rural Health Association is...

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 below). Last week, AFE pilots flew 3,600 pounds of sanitizer and 3,500 face shields to 8 different ru...

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, Michael was scheduled to be a speaker at our event in May, which has now been postponed. For now, you can ...

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 Mental Illness Mental Health America Alcoholics Anonymous National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Narcot...

With everyone concerned about spreading COVID, when should you wear a mask? Wendy Welch, Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium discusses PPE – Personal Protective Equipment. Mask making instructions: 100 Million Mask Challenge How to extend the life of a N95: Directions If you have items to donate, contact: kcollins@vrha.org More COVID-19 resources can be found at VRHA.org. EPISODE SUMMARY: CLICK HERE

How do you separate COVID facts from COVID fiction? Andrew Luskin, Epidemiologist for the Virginia Rural Health Association joined the Rural Health Voice to share information that will help you make good decisions. VRHA has a wide variety of resources for COVID-19 on our website. Just go to vrha.org and click the buttons on the main page. You may also be interested in a review of what has been discussed in Congress related to COVID-19. That can be found in Episode 211 of the Congressional Dish...

What’s 29 feet long and brings autism services to rural Virginia? Angela Scarpa, Director of the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research, and Jennifer Bertollo, a doctoral student clinician joined me to discuss the Mobile Autism Clinic. RHV No 32 – Autism Services, To Go! Aired 3-20-2020 (PDF)

What does a football reporter know about drug overdoses? Giles County, Virginia native Lauren Sisler from ESPN joined me to talk about her journey from denial to acceptance to advocacy. Ms. Sisler will be the keynote speaker at the Appalachian Communities Opioid Response Summit, May 12 in Huntington, WV.

Who receives higher quality healthcare information – rural or urban? Megan Leimkuhler , UVA pre-medicine student and winner of the 2019 Rural Health Voice poster contest, joined RHV host Beth O’Connor to discuss how people access information about their health. View Ms. Leimkuhler’s winning entry. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, follow the Virginia Rural Health Association on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

What is happening in Richmond to make sure Virginia’s rural communities have access to broadband? Evan Feinman, the Governor’s Chief Broadband Advisor joined me to talk about what is being done and how you can help. If you want to promote broadband expansion in Virginia’s rural communities, here are actions you can take: Join the Commonwealth Connect Coalition Contact your local county Board of Supervisors and ask what is being done to provide access in your community. Contact your General A...

What are the ups and downs of being a physician in a rural community? Dr. Sandra Balmoria of the Eastern Shore Rural Health System joined me to discuss why she returned to the Eastern Shore after living and working in Northern Virginia. She was the winner of the Virginia Rural Health Association Charles Crowder, Jr. Award – This award is given annually by the Virginia Rural Health Association to recognize outstanding individual commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virgini...

What are rural ambulance services doing to reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room? Tim Perkins, CHaTR Division Manager, Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services reviews how Community Paramedicine/Mobile Integrated Healthcare can improve access. The Rural Health Voice will be taking a break to host our annual conference and enjoy the holidays; we will be back in January. Until 2020, you can still find the Virginia Rural Health Association on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our web...

How can Community Health Workers be used to improve Chronic Care Management? Kenya Elliott, Community Care Coordinator, at Piedmont Access to Health Services and Amanda Young, Program Manager from the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research discuss how their program is helping people in their community maximize their health outcomes If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join Kenya, Amanda, and all of our session leaders at the Rural Health Voice conference in Novem...

Can improved high school graduation rates lead to better health in a community? Shani Gaylord and Jasmine Smith from the Virginia Department of Health’s Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute joined the Rural Health Voice to talk about how YHELI is improving health through helping students. Shani and Jasmine will be session leaders at the Rural Health Voice conference in November.

Can community organizations have a role in addressing health issues for a community? Ashley Reynolds Marshall joined me to discuss how the YWCA of Central Virginia is doing exactly that. If you want to be part of the conversation, join Ashley and the other session leaders at the Rural Health Voice conference in November.

What comes to your mind when some one says “rural?” What does “rural” mean to you? Dr. Laura Hunt Trull, Social Worker and Assistant Professor at James Madison University shared her thoughts on the way we talk about rural and how we can change the narrative. You can hear more from Dr. Trull at the upcoming Rural Health Voice Conference – AND – if you are a student in any health professions or public policy major, you can receive a scholarship to attend through the “Why Rural” essay contest.

What do communities need to attract employers? And what does that have to do with health? Travis Staton, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Southwest Virginia discusses their method of improving health in the region through a Cradle to Career approach. If you want to hear more from Travis and be part of the conversation about rural health, join the Rural Health Voice Conference in Martinsville this November.