Registration is open through November 13 for Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s and Indiana Regional Medical Center’s fifth annual Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference on November 19 at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.
More than 400 people are expected for the annual event, which celebrates National Rural Health Day and builds on the IRMC-IUP Day tradition of celebrating its many partnerships.
The conference includes more than 20 sessions addressing important issues in healthcare, especially rural healthcare, and features members of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s cabinet, Pennsylvania senators and representatives, and key healthcare and industry leaders.
Registration can be made on the IUP website. On-site check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and sessions continue through 5:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are included as part of the conference registration; 5.5 face-to-face continuing legal education credits are available for attorneys practicing in Pennsylvania.
The conference is coordinated by IRMC Chief Operating Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer for Mountains Health Jim Kinneer and IUP Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs Christina Koren.
IUP President Michael Driscoll, Mountains Health and IRMC President and CEO Steve Wolfe, Pennsylvania Senator and Majority Leader Joe Pittman, Pennsylvania Representative Jim Struzzi, and Indiana County Commissioners will offer the welcome and opening remarks.
Pennsylvania’s Rural Health Transformation will be the topic of a morning panel discussion with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, Department of Health Secretary Debra Bogen, Rural Health Transformation Program Director Brinna Ludwig, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Health and Human Services Lindsey Mauldin.
Morning sessions include:
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Jen Gilburg, deputy secretary for technology and entrepreneurship in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, presenting “Driving Rural Health Innovation: Pennsylvania Vision for Technology and Entrepreneurship” with updates on Pennsylvania’s efforts to support innovation in rural health.
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Marty Raniowski, rural health advocate, will present “Lessons in Rural Health Solutions: Perspectives from Government and Industry.”
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Joshua Dearing, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a family medicine physician at UPMC, sharing an overview of the Pennsylvania Medical Society goals and priorities.
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Initial findings from the Rural Physician Retention Survey, “Keeping Physicians in Rural Pennsylvania,” done in partnership with IUP and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, presented by Founding Dean of IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine Miko Rose and Director and Executive Research Association of IUP’s Applied Research Laboratory Paul Hawkins.
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A video presentation, Rural Health in Motion + Collaboration Delivers, by Koren and IRMC/Mountains Health Director of Laboratory and Respiratory Services Jackie Sansig.
The annual Rural Health Hero awards and a special announcement will be presented immediately before the networking lunch, which includes a display of research posters by IUP student and faculty researchers. The authors of the research posters will be present for a question-and-answer session from noon to 1:15 p.m.
Topics and presenters scheduled for the afternoon concurrent sessions are:
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“Special Rural Medic Initiative,” Mark Stephens, associate dean for Medical Education, Penn State College of Medicine
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“Advancing Rural Health Through Research and Publication,” IUP professor of English Dana Driscoll
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“Novel Approaches to Healthcare Pipelines – It’s a Changing World,” President and CMO Punxsutawney Area Hospital Clark Simpson and Cofounder and Chief Medical Officer, Empower360, Zane Gates
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“Rural Residency Updates from the Regional Collaborative,” Simpson and IRMC Rural Family Medicine Residency Program Director Amanda Vaglia
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“Food is Medicine: Building Healthier Rural Communities,” Center for Population Health Local Food Systems Coordinator Nan McNinney and IUP Department of Allied Health faculty and Medical Imaging and Medical Laboratory Science Coordinator Lei Hao
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“New Data Resources for Educators,” Director of Special Projects for the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council Jake Muskovitz
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“Blue Zones 101,” Community Health and Transformation Specialist Shelly Trumbo
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“PA School-Based Health Clinics,” Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance Executive Director Julie Cusier
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“Rural Health for All: Access for People with Disabilities and Special Needs,” The Arc of Indiana County Executive Director Michelle Jordan and Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Cetner Director Judd Mellinger-Blouch
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“Primary Care Development Corporation’s Mission 101,” Primary Care Development Corporation Vice President for Consulting and Training Isaac Kastenbaum
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“Beyond the Office Visit: Integrating Lifestyle Medicine, Patient Education, and Primary Care,” CrossFit Indiana Owner and Head Coach C.J. Lyons and Healthy Steps Nutrition Founder and Owner Nicole Marchand Aucoin
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“Bridging the Rural Dental Gap: ‘State of the State’ on Oral Health Access in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health Executive Director and Pennsylvania Rural Health Association President Helen Hawkey
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“Connected Communities, Healthier Pennsylvanians: Leveraging Health Information Exchange and PA Navigate to Advance Rural Healthcare,” ClinicalConnect Health Information Exchange Compliance and Outreach Manager Laura Mosesso and Systems Analyst Carly Pasinski
Conference programming concludes with closing reflections by IUP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans and Kinneer.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.