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 shares how Healthy Rural California launched psychiatry and family medicine residencies in Chico, why medical education is the key to reversing decades of healthcare inequity, and how her team is creating pathways for youth, medical students, and future physicians to stay and serve rural communities. She breaks down the economic ripple effects of residency programs, her vision for an interprofessional healthcare campus, and what it really takes to bring lasting health equity to the North State.

If you care about solving physician shortages, strengthening rural health, or building community-driven solutions, this conversation is a blueprint for impact.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

•  Healthy Rural California's Mission
•  Challenges in Rural Healthcare
•  Graduate Medical Education Initiatives
•  Video Presentation: Residency Programs
•  Impact of Residency Programs
•  Community Health and Education Programs
•  Future Plans and Expansion
•  Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Kristy Bird MaKieve:

•  LinkedIn 

Resources

• California Medical Association, 
• National Rural Health Association ,
• UC Davis School of Medicine
• North Valley Community Foundation 

The CSRHA has been a go-to resource for rural healthcare and community leaders since 1995. The CSRHA brings an accumulation of actionable insights to the next generation of rural healthcare leaders. 

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Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.