This Is Rural Health
by California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA)
This Is Rural Health, is a twice-monthly podcast from the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA). The CSRHA is focused on ensuring that the needs and voices of rural Californians are expressed and heard and continually works toward improving the quality and length of life of rural Californians.This podcast, like the CSRHA, brings together leaders in rural healthcare with policy advisors, community leaders, and other forward thinkers to gain a better understanding of what is happening across today’s rural healthcare ecosystem. Hear the unique perspectives of these industry and community leaders and how they are finding innovative solutions to the challenges of a rapidly changing and increasingly complex healthcare industry.We cover topics such as leading with resilience in a post COVID-19 paradigm, telehealth, and the rising costs of patient care all through the lens of our rural communities. Guests also share their insights, lessons learned and predictions about the futur
Episodes
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Rural Aging Policy
What happens when California’s fastest-growing older population lives in communities where housing is scarce, healthcare can be hours away, and essential support services are difficult to find? For rural older adults, these challenges are already a reality—and they are only becoming more urgent.…
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Panel: From Innovation to Implementation
What if the key to strengthening rural healthcare isn't doing more—but working smarter, together? In this episode of the California State Rural Health Association Podcast, we bring you a thought-provoking conference panel featuring Sylvia Trujillo, healthcare policy and regulatory attorney and...
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Beyond Books: Rural Libraries as Partners in Community Health
What if one of the most important healthcare partners in your community isn't a clinic or hospital—but your local library? In this episode of the California State Rural Health Association Podcast, Lisa Lindsay, Library Programs Consultant with the California State Library, shares how rural...
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2026 CHA Update
What happens when hospitals are asked to do more with less—while navigating sweeping legislative changes, funding uncertainty, and growing regulatory pressure? In this episode of the California State Rural Health Association Podcast, Dietmar Grellmann breaks down the policy landscape that will...
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View from Capitol Hill: A National Rural Health Update
Rural healthcare is facing one of its most pivotal moments in decades. With major Medicaid changes, a historic $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, workforce shortages, and growing pressure on hospitals and providers, the decisions being made in Washington today will shape the future of...
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Health Equity Starts in the Community
Dr. Ramiro Zúñiga, Chief Medical Officer for Health Net Medi-Cal, brings nearly three decades of experience as a board-certified family physician serving rural and underserved communities across California. At Health Net, he co-leads contractual, compliance, and regulatory efforts for the…
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Rethinking Dental Access— Serving the Overlooked
Dr. Wade Banner is a California-board-certified dentist and founder of In Motion Dentists, one of the few practices delivering comprehensive, in-home care—everything from cleanings to crowns and root canals—for seniors, homebound patients, and people with intellectual and developmental...
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Building Rural Communities Through Collaboration
JD Garza is the Associate Director of the California Area Health Education Center (AHEC), hosted at UCSF Fresno, and a board member of the National AHEC Organization. His career centers on partnering with community organizations to serve medically underserved communities. In this episode, JD…
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Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Ingrid Villeda is a Program & Community Engagement Specialist at the Alzheimer’s Association (Northern CA & Northern NV). She’s spent 8+ years serving older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers—especially in Latino and rural communities—building partnerships and delivering bilingual...
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Healthy Rural California – Addressing Access to Care and Health Inequities in the Rural North
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…
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Ai & Rural Health
Nate Sundheimer—Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Director of Digital & Tech Strategy at Wipfli—joins CSRHA to demystify AI for rural healthcare leaders. With deep roots in healthcare innovation and a mission to make tech practical, Nate delivers a sharp, no-fluff session on how AI can empower rural...
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Taking Care of Our Staff: Maintaining Purpose and Impacting Quality with Kirsten Storne-Piazza
Kirsten Storne-Piazza is a licensed therapist, healthcare executive, and director of psychiatric programs at Orchard Hospital in rural Northern California. A passionate advocate for mental wellness in healthcare, she’s leading the development of a new inpatient youth psychiatric facility and...
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Findings from the Rural Health Equity Landscape Analysis
Holly Laird, Rural and Disability Equity Lead at the California Department of Public Health, is on a mission to reframe how state systems engage with rural communities. A lifelong advocate with deep roots in local and state public health, Holly led the first-ever Rural Health Equity Landscape...
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Get Loud! If Not You, then Who? Advancing Rural Aging Advocacy
What if the key to solving our aging crisis lies not in city halls but in rural towns—and in elevating the voices of those who’ve been overlooked for too long? In this powerful episode, we welcome Karol Swartzlander, Executive Director of the California Commission on Aging, a 24-year veteran in...
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The Landscape of Rural Health with Brock Slabach
Brock Slabach on Reimagining Rural Health Care from the Ground Up | CSRHA 2025 Conference Brock Slabach, COO of the National Rural Health Association, brings over two decades of frontline experience to the stage at the 2025 CSRHA Conference. A third-generation Kansas farmer turned policy leader,...
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Rural Wellness: Revolutionizing Rural Health Education
In this compelling panel discussion, host Shelly Brantley, Board Member of the California State Rural Health Association, brings together the powerhouse team behind UC Berkeley’s groundbreaking Rural Health Innovation Program. You'll hear from program founder and nationally recognized rural…
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Rural Wellness: Focus on Indigenous Youth and Mental Health
In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg is joined by Dr. Steven Sust and Dr. Jonathan Updike, child and adolescent psychiatrists from Stanford University, to discuss mental health challenges faced by rural Indigenous youth. The conversation covers the role of integrated…
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Bridging the Gap: Cognitive Healthcare Accessibility in Rural Communities
In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg, past president of the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA), introduces new board member Dr. Lily Lau. Dr. Lau shares her background, role as the chief clinical officer at Momentous Health, and her dedication to…
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Supporting Rural Communities with Telehealth
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. In this episode, Denise Pimintel, System Manager for the Clinical Team at Common Spirit Telehealth Network, and Dr.…
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Young Voices, Big Impact: The Future of Rural Health
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we spotlight Abhiram Reddy, one of the California State Rural Health Association's newest board members. The episode, hosted by Scott Hertzberg, past president of CSRHA, delves into Abhiram's background, his passion for rural health, and his journey from…
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All of Us Research Program: Building a Diverse Rural Health Database
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. Dr. Borowsky highlights the All of Us study, which aims to collect comprehensive health data from participants across the...
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Spotlight on Elena Francisco: A Dental Hygienist's Journey to Rural Health Advocacy
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," host Scott Hertzberg from the California State Rural Health Association introduces and welcomes new board member Elena Francisco. Elena, who has a long career as a dental hygienist, shares her passion for music, expressing her desire to return to playing...
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Where We Want To Go: The Future of Rural Health
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. We were privileged to have Brock Slabach, the Chief Operating Officer of the National Rural Health Association, discuss...
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Advancing Tobacco Prevention in Rural California
In this episode of 'This is Rural Health,' host Scott Hertzberg introduces Shelly Brantley, a seasoned public health professional and a new California State Rural Health Association board member. Shelly, who also serves as a project director at RISE, shares her valuable experiences and insights…
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Addressing Oral Health for Vulnerable Populations in Rural California
In this episode, Michel Schneider, President of the California State Rural Health Association, alongside her board colleague Elena Francisco, speaks with Dr. Elisa Chávez, a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry....
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Behind No More: Demonstrating Rural Advantages with Technology-Enabled Palliative Care
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. This episode features a thought-provoking discussion by Dr. Michael Frackin on the importance of individualized…
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Oral Health in California: Challenges and New Directions
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. The episode features Dr. Kristin Hoeft, Director of the California Oral Health Technical Assistance Center, who shares...
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Pesticide Illness: Diagnosis, Management, Reporting and Prevention
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. In this episode, We hear from Alanna Bares, MD, MPH, from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and…
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Navigating Medi-Cal Redetermination: Insights and Challenges with Darrel Ng
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. Join us for a fireside chat with Darrel Ng, Vice President of Communications at HealthNet, as we discuss the intricacies…
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Rural Workforce Challenges and Opportunities
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference. In this episode, Steve Stark, the Regional Chief Executive Officer at American Advanced Management, discusses the...
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The State of Rural Health in California with Peggy Wheeler
Welcome back to This is Rural Health. My name is Scott Hertzberg, past president of the California State Rural Health Association, and I am thrilled to have you with us once again. First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your continued support...
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Understanding Food Insecurity in Rural California
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," brought to you by the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA), we discuss a critical issue that affects communities across California and beyond: food insecurity in rural areas. Our host, Scott Hertzberg, President of the CSRHA, is joined by…
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Unlocking the Power of Diversity in Medical Research
Welcome back to This is Rural Health, the official podcast of the California State Rural Health Association. In this episode, we're diving into the incredible impact of the All of Us Research Program, especially as it relates to the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month. Dr. Martin...
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Breaking the Silence: Mental Health in Rural Communities
Welcome back to This is Rural Health, the official podcast of the California State Rural Health Association. In this episode, we have a compelling conversation with Jeff Winton, the founder and chairman of Rural Minds, a nonprofit organization working to provide mental health information and...
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Staying Covered: Efforts to Support Rural Californians with Medi-Cal Redetermination
Welcome back to "This is Rural Health," a podcast by the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA). In this episode, we focus on the importance of redetermination for Medi-Cal beneficiaries in California. Scott Hertzberg, CSRHA board president, speaks with the Vice President of...
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Empowering Rural Communities with Telehealth with Kim Klupenger
In this episode of "This is Rural Health," CSRHA board president, Scott Hertzberg sits down with Kim Klupenger, Chief Experience Officer at OCHIN and president of the California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC). They delve into the crucial role that CTRC and OCHIN play in supporting telehealth...
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Diverse Representation in Health Research Part 2
Welcome back to "This As Rural Health," a podcast by the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA). In this episode, we continue our exploration of the All of Us research program, following our enlightening conversation with Christine Perez in part one. Today, we have the pleasure of...
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Diverse Representation in Health Research with Christine Perez
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Healthcare Recruitment with Regina Levison
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Improving Oral Health Care Access for All with Dr. Megha Sata
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Health Equity in Rural Communities with Dr. Pooja Mittal
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Maternal Mental Health with Kelly O'Connor Kay
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Oral Health in Rural Los Angeles County
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Helping Californians Get the Most from Telehealth
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Re-Release: Oral Health in California with Mary McCune and Zachary Corbo
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Telehealth, Telemedicine, and Rural Health with Jeff Dunbar
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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The Value of Rural Health Clinics with Jodi Oldes
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Getting to Know the CSRHA President, Scott Hertzberg
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. For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on...
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Building Resilience with Michel Schneider
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. For more information visit our website at csrha.org For more behind the scenes of this podcast...
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Re-Release E05: Training the Physicians of the Future with Western University of Health Sciences
In support of National Rural Health Day 2021, the CSRHA has curated together four insightful episodes from the This Is Rural Health podcast. WHAT IS NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH DAY? Since 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the 50 State Offices of Rural Health, and rural...
About this show
This Is Rural Health, is a twice-monthly podcast from the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA). The CSRHA is focused on ensuring that the needs and voices of rural Californians are expressed and heard and continually works toward improving the quality and length of life of rural Californians.This podcast, like the CSRHA, brings together leaders in rural healthcare with policy advisors, community leaders, and other forward thinkers to gain a better understanding of what is happening across today’s rural healthcare ecosystem. Hear the unique perspectives of these industry and community leaders and how they are finding innovative solutions to the challenges of a rapidly changing and increasingly complex healthcare industry.We cover topics such as leading with resilience in a post COVID-19 paradigm, telehealth, and the rising costs of patient care all through the lens of our rural communities. Guests also share their insights, lessons learned and predictions about the futur
Hosted by
California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA)