This Is Rural Health

California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA)
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine

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 future of rural healthcare. 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

  1. Jun 18

    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 rural communities for years to come. In this episode, we sit down with a leading policy expert from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to unpack the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape and what it means for rural providers, patients, and community leaders across the country. From Capitol Hill politics to federal funding opportunities, our guest breaks down the key healthcare issues dominating the national conversation, including Medicaid reform, Medicare Advantage challenges, workforce shortages, telehealth expansion, AI in healthcare, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, and the long-awaited Farm Bill. We also explore the Rural Health Transformation Program—one of the largest federal investments in rural healthcare in generations—and what states must do to secure and sustain funding. The conversation dives into the realities facing rural hospitals and clinics, the impact of federal policy changes on healthcare access, and the innovative solutions emerging across the country to strengthen rural health infrastructure and improve outcomes. Whether you're a healthcare executive, policymaker, provider, educator, or advocate, this episode offers valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of rural health. If you care about the future of healthcare access in rural America, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Tune in for an inside look at the policies, funding, and innovations that could redefine rural healthcare for the next generation. 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    51 min

  2. 10/30/2025

    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 Medi-Cal line of business while providing strategic and operational direction for quality improvement, utilization management, and clinical programs. Previously Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Residency Program Director at San Joaquin General Hospital, Dr. Zúñiga has long combined clinical leadership with system-level transformation. He is also a Volunteer Clinical Professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine and serves on multiple boards, including the Sacramento Latino Medical Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Hispanic Health Foundation, and the Archstone Foundation. In this episode, Dr. Zúñiga breaks down how CalAIM is transforming care—expanding provider networks with community-based organizations, scaling Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, shifting to outcomes-based payment, and bringing care closer to where people live and learn through school-based telehealth and mobile clinics. He also shares how Health Net is investing in a diverse, community-aligned workforce and real-time data systems to reduce emergency-department visits and readmissions. Subscribe for more rural-health insights—and explore Health Net and CalAIM resources below. What You’ll Learn From This Episode:Introduction and Welcome Back Reintroduction and Background of Dr. Zúñiga CalAIM Rollout and Successes Expanding the Medical Ecosystem Addressing Workforce Shortages Focus on Equity and Community Partnerships Whole Person Care and Enhanced Care Management Telehealth and Remote Care Innovations Final Thoughts and Future of CalAIM Connect with Dr. Ramiro Zuniga: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/health-net Resources https://bridgingthedivideca.comwww.news.healthnet.comHealth NetCalAIM (DHCS)Hazel Health (school-based telehealth)Centene Foundation – Mobile Clinics partnership 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    26 min

  3. 10/09/2025

    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 disabilities. He also operates a specialized brick-and-mortar clinic in La Verne built for accessibility and behavioral needs. In this episode, Dr. Banner breaks down how portable dentistry actually works (spoiler: a carry-on-sized unit and a 7-minute setup), how partnerships with Regional Centers and RDHAPs unlock access, and why treating isolated patients in urban ZIP codes can feel as “rural” as the farthest county. We dig into workflow, equipment, teledentistry collaboration, and the mindset shift new grads need to serve special healthcare needs—plus how any dentist can start with house calls on a limited basis. Subscribe for more conversations on practical solutions for rural and hard-to-reach care. Learn more or request a ride-along via In Motion Dentists. What You’ll Learn From This Episode:Introduction and Guest Introduction Dr. Banner's Journey into Mobile Dentistry Working with Special Needs and Regional Centers Challenges and Solutions in Rural Dental Care The Importance of House Call Dentistry Future of Teledentistry and RDHAPs Conclusion and Contact Information Connect with Wade Banner: LinkedIn  Resources In Motion DentistsRDHAP ConnectSan Gabriel / Pomona Regional CenterAseptico Portable Dental UnitsCocoon Portable X-Ray 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    20 min

  4. 09/25/2025

    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 breaks down how AHEC recruits, trains, and retains health professionals for rural and underserved areas—at scale. We get into AHEC Scholars (a two-year, interdisciplinary track with community projects), clinical placements across community health centers, and why elevating CHWs, MAs, and CNAs is key. He also shares a standout youth diabetes coaching partnership, outcomes to date, and a practical burnout-prevention curriculum (“Healing from the Heart”) co-built with Hennepin Healthcare. What You’ll Learn From This Episode:Introduction to JD Garza and AHEC Overview of California AHEC California AHEC Centers and Partnerships AHEC Programs and Initiatives AHEC Scholars Program Burnout Prevention and Resiliency Program Future Plans and Conclusion Resources California Area Health Education Center (UCSF Fresno) National AHEC Organization HRSA Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program Hennepin Healthcare — Institute for Professional Worklife (burnout resources)Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaching Program 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    21 min

  5. 09/11/2025

    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 education that actually reaches families. In this episode, Ingrid breaks down what Alzheimer’s is (and isn’t), who’s at higher risk, and how new anti-amyloid therapies are changing the timeline for early-stage patients. We dig into the realities of rural care—limited specialists, long travel, internet deserts—and the concrete fixes that work: training primary care, leveraging Project ECHO, phone-first education, and meeting families where they already are (consulates, food banks, schools). You’ll leave with playbook-level ideas to expand access, support caregivers, and drive earlier detection in hard-to-reach places.  What You’ll Learn From This Episode: Overview of Alzheimer's Association Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia Risk Factors and Research Diagnosis and Treatment Options Challenges in Rural Communities Addressing Rural Healthcare Obstacles Behavioral Symptoms and Care Strategies Resources and Conclusion Connect with Ingrid Villeda: LinkedIn  Resources https://www.alz.org https://uspointer.net https://www.dementiacareaware.org  https://projectecho.unm.edu/initiatives/alzheimers-and-dementia-care-echo/ 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    28 min

  6. 08/21/2025

    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, and innovative partnerships to address the rural physician shortage head-on. In this episode, Kristy shares how Healthy Rural California launched psychiatry and family medicine residencies in Chico, why medical education is the key to reversing decades of healthcare inequity, and how her team is creating pathways for youth, medical students, and future physicians to stay and serve rural communities. She breaks down the economic ripple effects of residency programs, her vision for an interprofessional healthcare campus, and what it really takes to bring lasting health equity to the North State. If you care about solving physician shortages, strengthening rural health, or building community-driven solutions, this conversation is a blueprint for impact. What You’ll Learn From This Episode: Healthy Rural California's Mission Challenges in Rural Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Initiatives Video Presentation: Residency Programs Impact of Residency Programs Community Health and Education Programs Future Plans and Expansion Conclusion and Final Thoughts Connect with Kristy Bird MaKieve: LinkedIn  Resources California Medical Association, National Rural Health Association ,UC Davis School of MedicineNorth Valley Community Foundation  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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    21 min

  7. 08/08/2025

    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 providers to do more with less. This episode dives into real-world, nonclinical AI applications that reduce burnout, streamline operations, and improve patient outcomes—without breaking the bank or disrupting workflows. Nate walks through actionable frameworks for evaluating vendors, calculating ROI, and navigating implementation. Plus, he shares insights from Wipfli’s national survey of rural execs, showing how AI is already at work behind the scenes—even if providers don’t realize it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the noise or unsure how to vet “game-changing” tech, this is your roadmap. What You’ll Learn From This Episode:Nate Sundheimer's Background and CredentialsIntroduction to AI in Rural HealthcareUnderstanding AI and Its ApplicationsCurrent State and Challenges in Rural HealthcareAI Solutions and Implementation StrategiesNonclinical AI and Technology ApplicationsImplementation Challenges and Success MetricsKey Takeaways and Final Thoughts Connect with Nate Sundheimer: LinkedIn  Resources Wipfli – Healthcare Advisory & Technology Services, Microsoft Nuance DAX (Dragon Ambient eXperience),Abridge – AI Medical DocumentationSuki – AI for Clinical Documentation (FQHC focused)OpenLoop – Virtual Staffing for Healthcare 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    37 min

  8. 07/24/2025

    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 actively works with first responders and rural health organizations to combat burnout and compassion fatigue. In this powerful talk, Kirsten shares the deeply personal and professional journey that brought her to the frontlines of rural healthcare leadership—including her pivot after the 2018 Camp Fire. She breaks down how her hospital tackled staff burnout head-on, reducing turnover by more than half and raising patient satisfaction to 92%. You’ll learn the tools, surveys, and strategies her team used to reshape culture, rebuild trust, and reignite purpose across departments. It’s a must-listen for anyone looking to improve outcomes by investing in their people. What You’ll Learn From This Episode: Kirsten's Background and Passion for Healthcare Defining Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Personal Journey and the Impact of the Camp Fire Addressing Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare Case Study: Orchard Hospital's Approach Steps to Improve Work-Life Balance Leadership and Employee Engagement Initiatives Results and Takeaways The Importance of Taking Care of Healthcare Workers Connect with Kristen Storne-Piazza: LinkedIn  Resources Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL)Studer Group Rounding and Recognition ModelCompassion Fatigue Self-Test 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 Facebook. If you enjoy This Is Rural Health, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this! Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.

    20 min
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About

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 future of rural healthcare. 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

Information

  • Creator
    California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA)
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA)
  • Show Website
    This Is Rural Health