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Rural Matters
Rural Matters
Author: Michelle Rathman
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Rural Matters is a biweekly, 30-minute podcast about rural education, business, and health. The podcast’s mission is to increase awareness, inform discussion, and expand the dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders every day. Guests on the podcast include rural education decision-makers, rural business owners and entrepreneurs, and rural health care representatives. The National Rural Education Association and the Center for Rural Affairs are marketing partners.
179 Episodes
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In this episode, Michael chats with Michael Backus, President and CEO of Oswego Health; Brian Fisher, Managing Director at BRG; and Dr. Julia Clark, Managing Director at BRG. Together, they discuss the realities rural hospitals are facing; what Oswego Health is currently experiencing in upstate New York; innovative and collaborative approaches necessary to rethink operating models; how BRG Healthcare is working with rural hospitals to help bolster operations; and how partnerships can serve as a winning strategy to help rural hospitals overcome operational barriers. This episode and the two-part series are sponsored by BRG. Visit www.thinkbrg.com/healthcare to learn more.
In this episode, Michael chats with Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA); Brian Fisher, Managing Director at BRG; and Dr. Julia Clark, Managing Director at BRG. Together, they discuss the current state of rural hospitals; NRHA’s analysis of the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on rural hospitals; what rural healthcare providers should do now to ensure they can continue to offer quality patient care; and how NRHA and BRG are working together to reimagine the way rural providers can deliver care in the future. This episode and the two-part series are sponsored by BRG. Visit www.thinkbrg.com/healthcare to learn more. Check out NRHA’s analysis on the impact of the OBBBA on rural healthcare at bit.ly/47iHbRQ.
In this episode, Michael chats with Max Silber, Vice President of Mobility and IoT at MetTel. Together, they discuss connectivity and the role copper-based landlines play in rural hospitals; how rural healthcare facilities can transition to digital systems, even with limited costs and resources; challenges that rural organizations could face when transitioning to digital; how MetTel helps those organizations make successful transitions to digital; and much more.
In this episode, Michael chats with Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association; Dr. Steven Johnson, Superintendent of Fort Ransom School District in North Dakota and leader of Rural Educational Associates; and Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Executive Director of Rural Schools Collaborative. Together, they first offer a warm tribute to Dr. Allen Pratt, who is retiring as Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association. Then, they dive into the most important developments in rural education in 2024 and wrap up with some insights on what could be at the forefront in 2025.
In this final episode of our MedCerts series, Michael chats with Jenny Story, Office Manager and Co-Owner at Story Family Medicine in Idaho, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss the unique community Story Family Medicine serves, the challenges it faced in finding new talent, why it partnered with MedCerts to deploy a phlebotomy certification course to help fill that role, how MedCerts partnership models help to bridge talent gaps in rural health, and much more. This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.
In this episode, Michael chats with MacKenzie Nuckolls, RN CNOR, Assistant Director of Surgical Services at Union General Health System in Georgia, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss MacKenzie’s role at Union General Health System, challenges the hospital faced as it tried to fill talent gaps, how the hospital’s partnership with MedCerts help to meet those needs, and much more. This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.
In this episode, Michael chats with Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Together, they discuss how McFadden’s office coordinated the response to recent natural disasters; the impact of HUD’s housing supply work, including PRO Housing and the Section 108 Legacy Challenge; how HUD is working to provide financial assistance to rural communities facing homelessness difficulties; and HUD’s holistic approach to improve economic prosperity in rural communications.
In this episode, Michael chats with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts; Dana Janssen, Chief Product Officer at MedCerts; Rupi Hayer, Senior Manager for Chronic Disease Education in the Improving Health Outcomes Department at the American Medical Association (AMA); and Lauren Clemmons, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, they discuss MedCerts’ employer partnership model, how the organization’s programs benefit rural communities, the AMA’s Blood Pressure Measurement initiative, why it’s important to choose the right partner for online healthcare and IT training, why the two organizations partnered, the importance of blood pressure measurement training and education, and much more. Explore the AMA’s Student Blood Pressure Measurement Learning Series: edhub.ama-assn.org/ama-cvd-prevention-education/pages/student-bp-learning-series?bypassoutputcache=true Learn more about the partnership between MedCerts and the AMA: www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-medcerts-collaborate-improve-blood-pressure-measurement-skills This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit MedCerts.com.
In this episode, Michael chats with Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG). Together, they discuss recent federal investment in rural areas, why private philanthropy and government need to rethink funding strategies, why rethinking measurement is important, the impact of investing in rural development hubs, and much more. For more information, visit aspencsg.org.
In this episode, Michael chats with Elizabeth “Libby” Jones, Program Director of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s Overdose Prevention Initiative (OPI). Together, they discuss OPI’s mission, what they’re working on now, differences between rural and urban issues surrounding the opioid crisis and overdose epidemic, what’s happening at the federal level to address these concerns in rural America, and much more. For more information, visit actionforoverdose.org.
In this episode, Michael chats with returning Rural Matters guest Luke Shaefer, Faculty Director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy, professor of social work, and co-author of The Injustice of Place, which explores the legacy of poverty in disadvantaged rural communities across the U.S. Together, they discuss the impetus and research behind the book, what “disadvantage” truly means in the context of dozens of rural American communities, and much more. This episode is sponsored by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. For more information, visit poverty.umich.edu. Order Luke’s book, The Injustice of Place, at bit.ly/3L2vKSw. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the fourth and final installment of our 2023 series with Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Tami McVay, Director of Emergency Services at Self-Help Enterprises; Meghan Tosney, Assistant Deputy Director at California’s State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance; Eddie Ocampo, Program Director with the Community Sustainability Department at Self-Help Enterprises; and Paul Gosselin, Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management at the California Department of Water Resources. Together, they discuss emergency services and response work in California during a period of drought, the nonprofit role in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, helping families find viable solutions for safe and affordable drinking water, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the fourth installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University and CEO of Craft Education System, and Mary Wurtz, Policy Analyst at The Council of State Governments Center of Innovation. Together, they discuss their work to bolster the rural public-sector workforce, the power of apprenticeships in advancing rural communities, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org. CSG Launches New Initiative to Expand Civic Sector Apprenticeship Programs in the States: www.csg.org/2022/10/04/csg-launches-new-initiative-to-expand-civic-sector-apprenticeship-programs-in-the-states Expanding Rural Apprenticeship in Maine: csg-erc.org/rural-apprenticeship-in-maine The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the third installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Jessi Snyder, Director of Community Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Olivia Gomez, Family Resource Community Liaison at Planada Elementary School District and board member of Self-Help Enterprises and the Planada Community Services District; Patrick Isherwood, Director of Asset Management at Self-Help Enterprises; and Graciela Soto, CEO of Altura Centers for Health. Together, they discuss the current community services needs in rural communities, needs around infrastructure, health care, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, are sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural development experts: Betsy McGovern-Garcia, Director of Real Estate Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Jennifer Gomez, City Manager for the City of Farmersville, California; and Adrianne Hillman, Founder and CEO of Salt + Light Works. Together, they discuss rural housing and community development, rural housing services and partnerships, the connection between rural housing and transportation, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the third and final installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners, where he works to bring people, information, and resources together to improve the quality of educational attainment and career development services in South Texas. Together, they discuss how one partnership, UpSkill Coastal Bend, is helping the region achieve better rural postsecondary and workforce outcomes, how data is working to drive decision-making and action in the region, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution’s podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. Reimagine Rural podcast: www.brookings.edu/reimaginerural The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Kate Hansen, Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs; Brett Melone, Chief Business Strategies Officer at California FarmLink; and farmers Dan Voss and Max Chavez (interpretation by Carmen Montes, Center for Rural Affairs). Together, they discuss farming initiatives and stewardship, the role of conservation in farming, small businesses in rural communities, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution’s podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. More information on the topics discussed today can be found at cfra.org/2023-farm-bill-platform. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
Synopsis: In the third and final installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with Emily Labandera, Director of Research at Excelencia in Education, and Cassandra Arroyo, Research Fellow at Excelencia in Education and doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Together, they discuss Excelencia’s research and work to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, the challenges they have—and continue to—overcome, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org. To learn more about Excelencia in Education and its initiatives, visit: www.edexcelencia.org www.edexcelencia.org/research www.edexcelencia.org/research/publications/institutional-resilience-puerto-rico-first-look-efforts-puerto-rican-hsis The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the first installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Hep Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural development experts: Tom Collishaw, President and CEO of Self-Help Enterprises; Peter Carey, former CEO of Self-Help Enterprises and current Management Consultant; and Sergio Cuellar, Independent Consultant for nonprofit organizations. Together, they discuss self-help housing and homebuilding, rural community leadership and development in rural areas, the importance of farmworkers to rural initiatives, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.
In the first installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Mark Rembert, Director of Research & Knowledge and the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Together, they discuss common misconceptions about rural America, how data and research can combat those misconceptions and deepen the broader understanding of rural America, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution’s podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. CORI: www.ruralinnovation.us CORI’s Rural Aperture Project: www.ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/ Brookings’ Reimagine Rural podcast: www.brookings.edu/reimaginerural. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.



