Who is the Cancer Coalition of Virginia and why do they have a plan?  Jessica Deering and Victoria Zwicker joined RHV to discuss the 2023 Virginia Cancer Plan.

Resources:

• https://cancercoalitionofvirginia.org/virginia-cancer-plan/
• https://cancercoalitionofvirginia.org/

What do regional organizers do?  Clio Schurtz of organizing.org/">Virginia Organizing joined RHV to discuss how she engages people in the New River Valley to address housing needs.

If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, join us at the Virginia Rural Health Voice Conference, November 15-16 in Blacksburg.

Who in Washington DC is working to support healthcare in rural communities?  Tom Morris from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy joined RHV to discuss how his staff provide support through information, data, and of course, grant opportunities.

Additional resources:

• TAGGS – Government grant tracking website
• HRSA data warehouse
• Rural Health Information Hub
• VRHA membership

What do you need to know about hazardous waste in your home or healthcare facility?  Jim O’Leary and Chris Archambeault joined RHV to discuss what the Virginia department of Environmental Quality can do to help make sure your waste is properly stored and disposed.

More information:

• 22.pdf">https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/10_step_blueprint_guide_final_9-22.pdf
• https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/documents/10008_managingyourhazwaste_508pdf_october_16_2019.pdf

We are flipping the script for episode 101.  Instead of our host Beth O’Connor interviewing someone, she was the interviewee as a guest on the Commonhealth podcast.

Registration for the Rural Health Voice conference is now open!  Join us in Blacksburg November 15 & 16.

Because this is our 100^th episode, RHV is celebrating by doing something a little different.  Many of the regulations our rural hospitals and clinics follow were created by Congress, and it takes a literal act of Congress to change those regulations.  Instead of interviewing someone who is an expert of some aspect of rural health, the guest is Jennifer Briney, host of the Congressional Dish podcast to talk about how Congress operates and how you can make a difference in how those regulations are updated.

Related links:

• Congressional Dish podcast
• We’re Not Wrong podcast
• Current bills in Congress related to rural health (scroll to “Current Advocacy Campaigns” section)
• Directory.pdf">Congressional contacts for Virginia

How have rural hospitals changed over the years and what will they look like in the future?  John Supplitt, Senior Director of Field Engagement at the American Hospital Association joined RHV to discuss concerns and possibilities for our rural facilities.

What’s the difference between and MD and a DO?  Dr. Hope Tobey of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine joined RHV to discuss what college students need to consider when making the decision to attend medical school.

How can students get involved in VRHA and why should they do so?  Joshua McCray, UVA Clinical Research Coordinator joined RHV to discuss his experiences as a VRHA Student Board member.

Josh and fellow student board member Sean Thursen will be staying on the VRHA Board for a second term.

They will be joined by other students from UVA, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Virginia Tech MPH program, the Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Roanoke College as the student board representatives for the upcoming academic year.  Visit the VRHA Board web page and scroll to the bottom to see a list of our current student board representatives.

What is the UC Berkeley School of Public Health doing to support rural public health?  Kimberly MacPherson Faculty Director, Health Policy & Management, joined RHV to discuss the new Rural Health Innovation Program.