Whispers of the Northwoods

This first mini episode provides an overview of rural health disparities drawn from my own research into this topic during a summer course. Together we will examine my relationship to healthcare, common factors and themes that affect healthcare in rural settings, and how disability is woven into all of these already unaccommodating, complex systems. Below you can find links to the articles discussed in this topic, and I would be happy to share my final paper on these articles upon request. As always thank you for listening and feel free to reach out! email: [email protected] First Article: https://encompass.eku.edu/kjus/vol3/iss1/8/The Second Article: https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61794/chapter/546005838#546005838

This episode dives into some of the general healthcare disparities faced by residents in the Upper Peninsula in relation to the Center for Rural Health at Northern Michigan University, and their role in training Community Health Workers (CHWs). Joining the episode is Elise Bur, the director of Northern Michigan University's Center for Rural Health and Alie Obradovich a Disability Advocate at Superior Alliance for Independent Living (SAIL) and certified CHW. A link to NMU's Center for Rural Health website: https://nmu.edu/ruralhealth/A link to SAIL's website: https://www.upsail.org

This episode looks to introduce listeners to the idea and person behind Whispers of the Northwoods as well as what is to be accomplished through this podcast. As mentioned in the episode, UWGB's Rising Phoenix program is a fitting topic for the first episode as it propelled the host, Justine, to her current position that has allowed her to begin this process. Rising Phoenix is a college degree program that is to be completed simultaneously with a high school diploma and that is free of charge to rural students. It is a life-changing, unparalleled opportunity for rural students and something this podcast is proud to have the opportunity to highlight. A link to the Rising Phoenix program's website:https://www.uwgb.edu/rising-phoenix/A Link to An Overview of Dual Enrollment Policies in Three Southern States:https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/Rural_Dual_Enrollment_Policies.pdfA link to, Early College, Continued Success: Longer-Term Impact of Early College High Schools:https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2020.1862374