𝟏𝟑𝟖 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧-𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: In this episode of The Rural Scoop, Dr. Melissa Sadorf sits down with Dr. Regina Washington-Arthur—a nationally respected public health leader and current head of the Rural Library Network—for a powerful conversation about service, equity, and rural innovation. Dr. Washington traces her journey from the hills of West Virginia to becoming the first African American to earn a Doctor of Public Health at the University of Kentucky. Along the way, she shares how faith, family, education, and service shaped her leadership, and how partnerships across public health, education, and community institutions can transform outcomes for rural students and families. The conversation explores how libraries serve as trusted community anchors, how public health and education are deeply interconnected, and why rural communities have a unique advantage when it comes to collaboration, belonging, and impact. Dr. Washington also highlights the work of the Rural Library Network and Partners for Rural Impact, offering a forward-looking vision for strengthening cradle-to-career systems nationwide. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Regina Washington 01:53 Foundations of Leadership: Faith, Family, and Service 08:55 Berea College: Expanding Purpose and Possibility 17:41 Breaking Barriers at the University of Kentucky 28:51 Building Healthy Communities at Scale 39:06 Recruiting Student Pharmacists for Classroom Support 39:30 Farm to School Initiatives in Kentucky 40:33 The Role of Libraries in Community Health and Learning 44:35 Building Durable School-Library Partnerships 48:39 Introducing the Rural Library Network 56:02 Annual eSummit and Upcoming Events 01:02:13 Strategic Planning for Rural Impact 01:07:24 The Rural Advantage: Personal Connections and Community Support 01:15:53 Final Thoughts and Call to Action 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: This episode of The Rural Scoop underscores a powerful truth: when communities align around shared purpose, rural places can lead transformative change. Dr. Regina Washington reminds us that libraries are more than buildings—they are trusted hubs of learning, health, and connection. Through intentional partnerships, data-informed strategies, and a deep respect for place, rural communities can build systems that ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. From public health to education to libraries, this conversation offers a compelling roadmap for leaders committed to equity, collaboration, and the enduring strength of rural America. 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: © 2026 Melissa Sadorf / The Rural Scoop. All rights reserved. The content of The Rural Scoop, including podcast episodes, audio recordings, transcripts, show notes, graphics, and other original materials, is protected by copyright. No portion of this content may be reproduced, republished, distributed, modified, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Brief quotations or other uses may be permitted under applicable fair-use principles. For permission requests, please contact: Dr. Melissa Sadorf Email: [email protected] Phone: (520) 266-0081