KSRHA Sponsors Spring Rural Health Forum

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2010) − The Kentucky Student Rural Health Association (KSRHA) is sponsoring the Spring Rural Health Forum, "The Future of Rural Health: Strategies for Success in the Research, Practice and Policy Paradigm." The forum will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, in room 231 at the University of Kentucky Student Center Addition.

Curious about how the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act is going to impact health care delivery in Kentucky? Would you like to learn about current and future strategies for curbing the health professional shortages in rural Kentucky and health disparities among disadvantaged and under served populations?

"If you are an aspiring health professional, current health professional or a proponent of health equity and social justice, you are welcome to attend this unique learning event," said Katharine Head, instructor and doctoral student, Department of Communication, UK College of Communications and Information Studies. The event is open to the public.

Presenters and topics include: 

·       "If the Problems are in the Community, the Solutions are in the Community: Lessons Learned in Kentucky," by Dr. Gil Friedell, former director, UK Markey Cancer Center

·       "How Will Health Care Reform Affect Rural Health in Eastern Kentucky," Dr. Baretta Casey, director, UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health

·       "Considering New Models of Care in Rural Communities,"  Dr. Emery Wilson, director of Health Research and Development, UK College of Medicine

·       "The Future of Telemedicine and Assessing the Needs of Rural Kentucky," Gary Shannon, professor, Department of Geography, UK College of Arts and Sciences, associate professor, Center for Appalachian Studies and Health Services Research, and medical geographer and telemedicine pioneer.

"The KSRHA hopes to advance the health of Kentucky by increasing awareness about rural health issues and our capacity for service, learning and advocacy statewide," said Jacob Sither, moderator for KSRHA. "By exposing students to these kinds of opportunities within communities and among institutions, we strive to increase the knowledge, cultural competence and leadership qualities of future health professionals. We believe only through interdisciplinary research, collaborative models of practice and sound health policy can improvements in health and wellness become a reality for our under served communities."

Unfortunately, a disconnect between rural health problems and greater societal issues still exist, many of which are systemic and deeply rooted in the sociocultural environments of rural areas, Sither said. The KSRHA hopes to encourage more students to consider ways to improve rural health in Kentucky through research and practice, but most importantly through the advocacy initiatives of the KRHSA which mobilizes health professionals around health equity and social justice issues, he said.

"Before we can effectively tackle the vast array of health challenges threatening our vulnerable populations, we must build the capacity for doing so, which includes continually assessing and identifying problems and needs, educating future professionals and civic leaders about current and future strategies for health advancement, as well as increasing awareness of the ecologic factors implicated in poor health and health outcomes of communities," Sither said. "I firmly believe stimulating more collective interest and social responsibility for health would lay the groundwork for more salient health initiatives and public health interventions."

Refreshments will be provided. There will be opportunities for questions from the audience and time for informed discussion following the presentations. Space is limited.  RSVP to ky.srha@gmail.com.

For more information about KRHSA, go to http://ksrha.wordpress.com/about/ or http://ksrha.wordpress.com.