In the first episode in our fifth series, Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places, we begin our episode with the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC) Director of Public Policy, Jonathan Harwitz. Prior to joining HAC, Jonathan was Director of Housing Community Development and Insurance Policy for the House Financial Services Committee. He also served as Managing Director of Federal Policy and Government Affairs at the Low-Income Investment Fund, a large national Community Development Financial Institution. Jonathan shared that in his over 20 years of public policy, he has al ..read more

In this Impact Extra Episode, Michelle introduces issues from our upcoming series focused on rural housing as well rural transportation issues with special guest Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad works to advance policies and programs that create economic inclusion and opportunity in rural communities. During this conversation, Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad shares how the Rural Partners Network (RPN) takes a unique approach to help rural communities build prosperity through job creation, infrastru ..read more

Guests: Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association Susan Burton, Director National Grassroots Advocacy, National Association of Community Health Centers Brock Slabach, Chief Operations Officer, National Rural Health Association Carole Johnson, Administrator, HRSA In part two of our first ever "Rural Impact on Location” episode, host Michelle Rathman, closes out the conversations she had with top leaders in rural health, PLUS one very special conversation with HRSA Administrator, Carole Johnson, just after she delivered her keynote remarks at the National Rural Health Association 202 ..read more

In Part One of our very first "Rural Impact on Location” episode, host Michelle Rathman, traveled to Washington D.C. on a mission to get closer to connecting dots on matters of current health policy and legislative priorities focused on rural health.   During her time at the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute and the National Association of Community Health Centers Policies & Issues Conference, Michelle spoke with several thought leaders and experts from many states. Each conversation focused on a different aspect of rural health, covering issues from Medicaid exp ..read more

In this What’s Your Impact Episode in our series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Kelly Arduino, MA, MBA. Kelly is the Healthcare Industry Leader and Partner at Wipfli LLP, a top 20 accounting and consulting firm. She has over 25 years of diverse healthcare experience which gives her a unique perspective on today’s challenges. Kelly was psychotherapist and an academic researcher in health outcomes and spent a number of years as a healthcare strategy consultant before working as a healthcare investment banker specializing in financing for rural healthcare providers. Today her positio ..read more

In the third episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution. Tony has three decades of executive leadership experience in the philanthropic and public sectors addressing poverty and advancing inclusive economic development in the U.S. and globally. He launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative, which seeks to modernize and transform U.S. rural policy, and hosts the Reimagine Rural podcast, collecting the stories of rural towns across America that are experie ..read more

In the second episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Dr. Bill Soules, member of the New Mexico State Senate and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Soules earned his BA and MA in psychology and his interdisciplinary Ph.D. from New Mexico State University with a degree that spans education and psychology. Senator Soules is a champion for the data-driven and cross-sector prevention of adverse childhood experiences and adverse social determinants of health to ensure all children, students, and families have access to the vital services for surviving and thri ..read more

In the first episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Co-Authors of 100% Community – Ensuring 10 Vital Services for Surviving and Thriving and the Co-Founders of Anna, Age Eight Institute, Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney and Dominic Cappello. Katherine and Dominic are social innovators who are solving our most costly public health, education, and safety challenges through data, technology, and collaboration focused on systems change. With years of experience working with communities and governments, they know why systems intended to protect people tragically fail ..read more

In this extra episode Michelle reflects on the inaugural season. She highlights the many subjects covered in 2023 including rural health, our nation’s struggling rural hospitals, maternal and infant mortality challenges, Medicaid unwinding, food security, rural education, and the opioid epidemic. During this special episode, Michelle shares The Rural Impact’s goal to engage in conversations that enlighten, inform and hopefully inspire listeners to increase curiosity about the ways in which all of these matters covered on the show are connected to policy. She details opportunities for organizat ..read more

In this Rural Impact Extra Episodes series, "Women Who Impact," Michelle highlights inspirational leaders making extraordinary impacts in rural health in recognition of National Rural Health Day (NRHD). In the third episode, Michelle talks with the Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Rural Health Center, Michelle Mills. Michelle Mills is deeply committed to rural health at the state and federal levels. She holds other titles, including the National Rural Health Association Board Secretary, Government Affairs Committee Lead, and the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Serv ..read more