Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Indiana Regional Medical Center’s joint podcast, Rural Health Pulse, launches season four in conjunction with National Rural Health Day and IUP-IRMC’s annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference on November 20.
Season four episode one is “Seconds Matter: IRMC Advancing Stroke Care in Rural Communities.” It features IRMC Stroke/STEMI Program Coordinator Sarah George explaining the work of a primary stroke center, the different types of strokes, why it’s a leading cause of disability, and how interdisciplinary teams, including emergency medical services and rehabilitation, can collaborate to give patients the best chance at recovery.
Rural Health Pulse is part of a continued collaboration between IUP and IRMC, focusing on issues and stories impacting the health of the region and programs and initiatives designed to improve rural healthcare and wellness.
The Rural Health Pulse podcast is available for free on Spotify, YouTube, and the IRMC website.
George is a registered nurse with more than 10 years of experience. In her current role, she leads the development and management of the hospital’s Primary Stroke Center, STEMI Program, and Chest Pain Center. She facilitates and ensures the delivery of evidence-based, high-quality care for patients experiencing stroke and cardiac emergencies and maintains compliance with rigorous standards set forth by accrediting bodies.
The podcasts include professionals from IRMC and from IUP. It is recorded by students in the IUP Department of Communications Media under the direction of communications faculty member Mark Piwinsky and is produced by IUP Director of Strategic Partnerships Christina Koren. IRMC Chief Operating Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Pennsylvania Mountains Care Network Jim Kinneer serves as host for the shows.
“The Rural Health Pulse has been an outstanding collaborative project, offering important information on rural health issues as well as providing hands-on experience for the IUP students, who have done an outstanding job on the project,” Kinneer said.
“Coordinating the launch of each season with National Rural Health Day and the IUP-IRMC Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference reinforces our commitment to providing educational and informational resources related to rural health,” Koren said. “We are very proud of the topics and guests featured on Rural Health Pulse, and of our continued collaboration with IRMC,” she said.
Topics for upcoming episodes planned for the podcast include IUP and IRMC’s medical technology program, Appalachian health, and the Indiana County Conservation District.
The Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference, hosted at IUP’s Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on November 20, features members of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s cabinet, Pennsylvania senators and representatives, and key healthcare and industry leaders, including the president and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
Speakers and panelists include Department of Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, Department of Health Secretary Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich, and Pennsylvania Commissioner of Insurance Michael Humphreys; Senate Majority Leader Senator Joe Pittman, 41st District; Senator Michele Brooks, 50th District; Representative and Chair, Appropriations Committee Representative Jim Struzzi, 62nd District; Representative Arvind Venkat, 30th District; and Office of the Governor Deputy Chief of Staff Lindsey Mauldin.
Close to 400 people are registered for the conference.
President and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania Nicole Stallings will offer the keynote presentation, “Our Communities’ Futures Depend on Strong, Rural Hospitals,” addressing rural health opportunities and challenges and what they mean for communities. Stallings is featured on season three, episode five, of the podcast.
Rural Health Pulse podcast was launched in November 2022 in celebration of National Rural Health Day.
- Amanda Vaglia, family medicine physician and director of the IRMC Residency Program, is featured on the first episode of season one of the series, discussing the residency program.
- Season one episode two of the podcast is an interview with Narayanaswamy Bharathan, chair, IUP Department of Biology, and Jackie Sansig, IRMC director of Laboratory and Respiratory Services, discussing the evolution of the same-day COVID-19 testing process at IRMC by Bharathan, and the difference it made in patient care.
- Season one episode three features Rick Adkins, professor of mathematics in the IUP Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, discussing the community wastewater surveillance system.
- Season one episode four has IRMC’s Dan Clark, director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery and director of IRMC’s Comprehensive Breast Center, discussing robotics in surgery.
- IRMC’s inaugural family medicine residents are featured on season one episode five of the podcast.
- Season one episode six interviews Clark, presenting an overview of breast cancer medical education and care from IRMC.
- Season one episode seven features Steve Hovan, dean of IUP’s John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and IUP Distinguished University Professor, discussing IUP’s John J. and Char Kopchick Hall, home to the Kopchick College.
- Season one episode eight is an interview with Wendy Haislip, IRMC vice president and chief nursing officer, discussing Pennsylvania’s rural health model and workforce challenges.
- Season one episode nine features Erin Clark, director of IUP’s Speech and Hearing Clinic and assistant professor in the IUP Department of Communication Disorders, Special Education, and Disability Services.
- Season one concludes with a discussion with Katie Donald, marketing and public relations specialist at Punxsutawney Area Hospital, discussing rural healthcare models and challenges, in episode 10.
Season two of the podcasts was launched November 16, 2023, as part of IUP and IRMC’s 2023 National Rural Health Day events.
- In episode one of season two, Kinneer discusses “Promoting Integrative Wellness in a Rural Community” with IUP Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Nick Jacobs, of Windber, cofounder and president of the Windber Research Institute (now The Chan Soon-Shiong Institute for Molecular Medicine in Windber), and the founder of the Clinical and Translational Genome Research Institute, a research institute that is now part of Southern California University of Health Sciences in Los Angeles.
- Season two episode two features IRMC Director of Ambulatory Social Services Rachel Grove and Clinical Care Coordinator at IRMC Physician Group Jonathan Hunte, discussing how they work on a daily basis to help break down barriers to enable patients to overcome challenges in order that they can access services and resources in the local community.
- Season two episode three focuses on the challenges and opportunities of rural healthcare with Lou Pesci, director of IUP’s Institute for Rural Health and Safety.
- Season two episode four features Hilliary Creely, interim dean of IUP’s College of Health Sciences and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, with Kinneer discussing the vital role of research at IUP within the context of rural healthcare, exploring how research initiatives at IUP are shaping the landscape of healthcare in rural communities.
- Podcast season two episode five is “Lyme and Other Tickborne Diseases” with IUP biology professor Thomas Simmons.
- In season two episode six, Kinneer and Jacobs discuss genomics research and rural health.
- Season two episode seven is “Critical Support: Addressing Rural EMS Funding and Workforce Challenges and Solutions.” B.J. Pino and Reba Johnson of Citizens’ Ambulance discuss Pennsylvania's evolution and current state of emergency medical services.
- Episode eight of season two features IUP biology faculty member David Janetski discussing the critical role that freshwater ecosystems play in every community.
- Season two, episode nine, is a three-part episode featuring presentations from the second annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference in 2023.
Season three of Rural Health Pulse launched on November 21, 2024, in conjunction with National Rural Health Day and the third annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference with “A Conversation with Dr. Miko Rose, the Founding Dean of the IUP Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.”
- Season three episode two of the podcast features Tammy Calderone, administrator for the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program.
- Season three episode three of the podcast features Byron Stauffer, executive director of the Indiana County Center for Economic Operations, for a discussion about the intersection of economic and workforce development with rural health in Indiana County.
- Season three episode four of the podcast is a conversation with Indiana County Commissioner Sherene Hess: “Revitalizing Rural Communities: A Conversation with Commissioner Sherene Hess.”
- Season three episode five of the podcast is a conversation with President and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania Nicole Stallings, “Inside Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Pulse: A Conversation with HAP President Nicole Stallings.”
- Season three episode six is an episode featuring IRMC Trauma Program Manager Emilea Rippin for “Lifelines in the Region: Inside the IRMC Trauma Program.”
- Season three episode seven features members of the first graduating class of the IRMC Family Medicine Residency: “Full Circle: Reflections from the First Graduating Class of the IRMC Family Medicine Residency.” The residents are featured on season one episode five of the podcast.