In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we are happy to welcome Norberto Orellana, the Public Relations Lead at Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyoming. Norberto shares his inspiring journey from overcoming personal challenges, including cerebral palsy and homelessness, to influencing rural healthcare through public relations. The episode highlights Norberto’s approach to leadership, which focuses on empowerment and utilizing personal narratives to inspire change and build trust within the community. “A large part of public relations is getting that message out there. Sharing and ..read more

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Dr. Bill Auxier reflects on his recent experience at the Coaching and Leadership in Healthcare event co-hosted by Harvard Medical School, the Institute of Coaching, and McLean Hospital. He discusses the concept of "intelligent failure" as presented by Harvard Professor Amy Edmondson, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing intelligent failures, which are well-considered and lead to valuable learnings, from mere sloppy mistakes. The discussion explores how embracing intelligent failures can foster innovation and growth within organizations ..read more

When you think about rural healthcare, you may not think about Scotland, but Scotland has some very rural areas that deal with similar issues we deal with in rural America.  Hear about what they are doing in rural Scotland to deliver health and wellbeing to their residents, by listening to our conversation with Dr. Emma Watson, 2021-22 U.K. Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice Deputy Medical Director at NHS Highland. “NHS Highland delivers integrated health and social care, so it is not just about illness.” ~Dr. Emma Watson Dr. Emma Watson MSc, FRCPath, FRCPEd is a 2020-21 U ..read more

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Michael Hassell, CEO of Melissa Memorial Hospital in Colorado, discusses his journey from paramedic to hospital executive. Hassell discusses his strategic focus on community-centric initiatives, like enhancing local orthopedic services and integrating telemedicine. He also shares insights on effective collaboration through the Eastern Plains Health Consortium, underscoring the value of collective action in addressing rural healthcare challenges. “Being rural should be seen less as a location and more like a proclamation of our dedication to cre ..read more

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Kevin Stansbury, CEO of Lincoln Community Hospital in Colorado, shares his diverse and extensive experience in healthcare, including his time working internationally and his transition into rural healthcare leadership. He emphasizes the critical role of rural hospitals in providing essential services and the personal connections that enhance community healthcare. Kevin passionately advocates for more significant investment in rural healthcare infrastructure and policies that support the sustainability and advancement of health services in rural ..read more

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, hosted by Dr. Bill Auxier and Sydney Grant, we welcome another young rural health leader, Alana Monson Administrative Fellow at Trinity Health in Des Moines, Iowa. Just months after graduating with a Master's in Health Administration, Alana found herself in the role of interim CEO at Manning Regional Healthcare Center, a critical access hospital close to her hometown in Iowa.  In our conversation, she discusses how she rapidly transitioned her leadership skills, adapting to the role thanks to a lot of trust from her team. Her story is a te ..read more

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, Aidan Hettler, CEO of Sedgwick County Health Center, shares his unique journey from a recent college graduate with a background in supply chain management to becoming the CEO of a rural hospital at the age of 22. We discuss the importance of servant leadership and the impact young people can have in rural healthcare even without significant experience. Aidan shares the highlights of his role as CEO including the growth of services and his role in the community. Rural America is a really good place to work if you are young and aspiring to make a ..read more

Capital funding plays a crucial role in the success of rural hospitals. This week, we feature Brian Haapala, CEO of Stroudwater Capital Partners, who is at the forefront of assisting rural healthcare organizations in overcoming the hurdles of securing capital funding. Brian emphasizes the pivotal role of healthcare in small communities and shares his dedication to empowering these communities to drive healthcare improvements from within.  Our discussion with Brian sheds light on the significance of updating rural healthcare infrastructure. He provides insights into effective strategies fo ..read more

On Rural Health Leadership Radio, we are always discussing innovation in rural healthcare, and this week our conversation is through the lens of the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) model. We are delighted to welcome Anna Anna who serves as the Program Director at the Rural Health Redesign Center (RHRCO) and works to promote access to quality healthcare in rural communities.  In our conversation, Anna discusses the REH model and shares her insights on how hospitals can make a successful conversion, and what it means to their communities. Learn more about how organizations like RHRC can ..read more

Looking to test your knowledge of rural health? This episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio is exactly what you need! Join Sydney and Bill as they put their rural health expertise to the test with a series of trivia questions. Covering topics from community health workers to rural health clinics, this episode is full of learning. Listen in, play along, and see how much you know about rural health. “This was a wonderful way to learn. Good conversations, learning, and research were done by all of us today.” Sydney Grant ..read more