On this week’s episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we kick off a series focused on NRHA’s 2023 Rural Health Fellows and their policy papers. The first group we chatted with includes Lisa Rantz, Kevin Lambing, and Dr. Carrie Shaver who had the task of examining Medicare Advantage. In our conversation we discuss the intricacies, impacts, as well as personal experiences that the Fellows uncovered in their research.
“Get involved and advocate and educate on these issues. It will require all of us working together to create the change in policy and funding mechanisms that we need to ensure that our rural Healthcare is supported and continues to be strong.”
– Dr. Carrie Shaver
Kevin Lambing serves as the Senior Program Officer for Health at the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. In this role, he helps ensure East Texas children, adults, and families are healthy and have access to quality healthcare. He organizes and convenes stakeholders and develops community partnerships with potential health related grantees in East Texas, consisting of 22 rural counties and one primarily urban county, Harris County and Miller County, Arkansas (Texarkana area). In addition, he monitors federal and state legislation related to health with intentions for future gaps in funding health resources in rural East Texas.
Kevin’s 30-plus-year career in the Air Force culminated in his service as the Senior Advisor to the Air Force Surgeon General. In this role he defined, shaped, and executed health care policy in support of 45,000 personnel at 75 medical treatment facilities around the globe, ensuring a cost effective, patient-centered, and prevention-based healthcare continuum for 2.6M beneficiaries. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Community College of the Air Force, Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University, a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Webster University and is a 2023 National Rural Health Association Fellow. He is married to his wife Sheliea and they have 2 children, Noah and Lydia.
Lisa Rantz is the Executive Director of Hilo Medical Center Foundation which serves as the Hawaii Island Area Health Education Center, focusing on health career recruitment from K-12 to graduate medical education. She is the President of the Hawaii State Rural Health Association and in 2023 joined the National Rural Health Association Board of Trustees. Lisa is a 2023 NRHA Fellow and has over fifteen years of experience in facilitation and focus groups in education and health care, Lisa has developed impactful programs to address rural health challenges and advocate for community needs. Her accolades include the 2020 Small Business Advocate of the Year, the 2021 Peacemaker Award, the 2022Athena Leadership Award, the 2023 Community Star recognition for Hawaii, and the 2024 NRHA Volunteer of the Year award.
Dr. Shaver is an Assistant Professor of Health Management and Leadership at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and a founding member of the New Mexico Rural Health Association. Dr. Shaver has a strong background in the social service sector and has experience administering disease prevention, treatment, and health and wellness programs. She endeavors to bridge gaps between traditional silos in healthcare and foster collaboration among healthcare professionals through Systems Thinking. By embracing this holistic framework, she aims to contribute to the development of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable healthcare systems. Dr. Shaver’s research centers around understanding and addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural and frontier communities along the United States-Mexico border and countries within Latin America and the Caribbean.
Medical residency in a rural area is one of the key influencing factors for providers to stay and continue practicing in a rural area. This week on Rural Health Leadership Radio we are talking to Yoana Cruz, Clerkship and Sub-Internship Coordinator in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We talk with Yoana about the growing need for more providers in rural healthcare, and how she is bringing awareness to the need with up-and-coming medical students and working to connect those students with rural residencies.
“Although I may not be the person that gives direct care for patients, I hope to encourage medical professionals at an early stage of their career to provide the best quality care for patients.”
– Yoana Cruz
Born and raised in southwest Kansas, Yoana Cruz grew up in a welcoming community, full of hard-working immigrant families from more than thirty countries. Despite its rich heritage and tolerant culture, this agrarian city has many health disparities due to its growing number of immigrants and political refugees. The regional healthcare delivery system is slow to react to the complex medical and social needs of these diverse groups. Yoana’s own experiences with barriers to utilizing the healthcare delivery system as a child of immigrants have informed her perspective on health equity and motivated her to pursue mission-driven work in healthcare administration.
Yoana has 6+ years of project planning experience in the healthcare setting while previously working at Kearny County Hospital, Cerner Corporation, and now at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is a 1st generation academic student where she received her BBA from Fort Hays State University and recently graduated in May 2024 in her Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas Medical Center. In her spare time, she holds professional development workshops for undergraduate students pursuing business or healthcare-related careers.
This week on Rural Health Leadership Radio we’re talking to Karen Brown, Revenue Cycle Director at Mountrail County Medical Center. Karen shares the intricacies of revenue cycle, particularly in rural hospitals, and how revenue cycle professionals can work to maximize their efforts. Karen also shares the work she does coaching her staff on revenue cycle matters and offers advice for other rural healthcare financial leaders dealing with similar challenges.
“In rural hospitals, we wear so many hats that sometimes you could have one on and walk through the door and it has to change. Just give yourself some grace…”
– Karen Brown
Karen Brown is currently the Revenue Cycle Director for Mountrail County Medical Center. She is originally from Chicago and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Karen enjoys bowling, golfing, and working puzzles.
On this week’s episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we talk to Nick Derusha, Director and Health Officer of the LMAS District Health Department in Newberry, Michigan. Nick gives us a glimpse into what life was like for a rural district health department before, during, and after the pandemic and tells us about the lessons learned from that journey. Nick also shares the impact and importance of leadership development and growth for his organization’s culture, community, and leadership team.
“Your organization will become a reflection of you….So I would leave people with that insight, and also treat your employees well and take care of your communities.”
-Nick Derusha
I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and I am married with four daughters. I enjoy hunting, fishing, football, hockey, and spending time with my family. I am a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, have a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Health from Ferris State University, Graduate Certificate in the Foundations of Public Health from the University of Michigan and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University. I have been the Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft District Health Department (LMAS) Director and Health Officer since 2009. I was President of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health 2020-2022, I am Treasurer of the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital Bandmember the Michigan Center for Rural Health Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation Commission and appointed to the Michigan Public Health Advisory Council.