ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research

ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research An official affiliate of ETSU.

ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research works to honor and preserve our rich heritage through distinctive research, community engagement, training, and policy in the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.

Join experts from across the region on Sept. 16 for “The State of Aging in East Tennessee: Older but Better,” a regional...
09/14/2026

Join experts from across the region on Sept. 16 for “The State of Aging in East Tennessee: Older but Better,” a regional conference hosted by ETSU exploring the opportunities and challenges of aging in Appalachia.

Dr. Jodi Southerland, CRHR associated professor and assistant professor in the ETSU College of Public Health, will be among the featured speakers. The conference will cover dementia, active aging, creative aging, elder law, and other topics important to older adults and caregivers.

📅 Sept. 16
📍 Model Mill, Johnson City

Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/lLJG50ZMBL2

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, honor those who responded with courage and co...
09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, honor those who responded with courage and compassion, and hold close all those who carry the impact of that day.

We remember.

As part of the Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health (CWORPH), CRHR researchers examined successful partner...
09/10/2026

As part of the Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health (CWORPH), CRHR researchers examined successful partnerships between public health agencies and health care organizations in rural communities across the country.

The new report highlights four real-world collaborations focused on:

🔹 Supporting families after childbirth
🔹 Community paramedicine
🔹 Data sharing
🔹 Emergency response

The case studies offer practical lessons on leadership, communication, trust, shared goals, and using data to strengthen rural partnerships.

Read more in JPHMP Direct:
https://jphmpdirect.com/new-report-features-case-studies-on-successful-public-health-and-healthcare-collaborations-in-rural-areas/

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.Su***de affects communities across the country, but research from the ETSU/NORC Ru...
09/10/2026

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Su***de affects communities across the country, but research from the ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center shows that the burden is especially high in rural America.

From 2018 to 2021, su***de rates were consistently higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Rural communities also face challenges that can make it harder to access mental health care, including behavioral health workforce shortages, longer travel distances, and stigma.

Understanding where disparities exist can help communities, health care providers, and policymakers focus prevention efforts more effectively and strengthen access to care.

Read the ETSU/NORC policy brief: https://ow.ly/tYop50ZLAXp

In crisis? Call or text 988.

Tomorrow! Join CRHR Director Michael Meit for the Association of Health Care Journalists’ Rural Health Journalism webina...
09/01/2026

Tomorrow! Join CRHR Director Michael Meit for the Association of Health Care Journalists’ Rural Health Journalism webinar series.

On September 2 at 1 p.m. ET, Michael will present “Rural Health, Data, and Data Challenges in the Age of Rural Transformation.”

The webinar will explore the challenges of collecting, accessing, and interpreting rural health data, along with resources journalists can use to better understand the data and tell the rural health story.

📅 September 2 | 1 p.m. ET

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XybcN8WpTU2EAW9hjXahPw #/registration

Overdose is preventable. You can help by:Learning the signs of overdose.Carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it.Prom...
08/31/2026

Overdose is preventable. You can help by:

Learning the signs of overdose.
Carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it.
Promoting respect by using person-centered language.
Supporting access to treatment and recovery services.
Sharing evidence-based overdose prevention resources.
This International Overdose Awareness Day, the conversation is still needed — and every action can help save lives.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3U0adRS

No one has done more to champion East Tennessee, celebrate its people, and give back to their rural roots than Dolly Par...
08/26/2026

No one has done more to champion East Tennessee, celebrate its people, and give back to their rural roots than Dolly Parton.

From sharing the stories and spirit of the mountains with the world to investing in children, families, and communities here at home, Dolly’s love for East Tennessee has always been at the heart of what she does.

Her generosity, authenticity, and deep connection to the place that shaped her have made an impact far beyond our region, while always shining a light back home.

Thank you, Dolly, for never forgetting where you came from and for showing the world what it means to give back to the communities that raised you. ❤️

How well will artificial intelligence work in rural health care?CRHR researcher Dr. Qian Huang recently spoke with KFF H...
08/25/2026

How well will artificial intelligence work in rural health care?

CRHR researcher Dr. Qian Huang recently spoke with KFF Health News about the opportunities and challenges of bringing AI into rural hospitals and clinics.

Huang highlighted an important concern: Many AI tools are developed and tested in large academic health systems using data from urban populations. Rural communities may have different health needs and face different barriers, including limited broadband, fewer IT resources, and transportation challenges.

She also emphasized the importance of listening to rural patients and clinicians and evaluating whether these technologies actually improve care.

“We do not have a lot of resources to waste on tools that don’t work in rural areas.”

Read the full story from KFF Health News: https://kffhealthnews.org/rural-health/rural-healthcare-artificial-intelligence-patients-wary/

08/21/2026

Congratulations to the CRHR staff and affiliated faculty honored at this year’s ETSU College of Public Health Annual Awards Luncheon! 🎉

We’re especially proud to celebrate:
🏆 Nancy Miller, our project coordinator, recipient of the Outstanding Administrative Staff Award
🔬 Dr. Beth O’Connell, recipient of the Faculty Research Award
👏 Dr. Jodi Southerland, recipient of the Faculty Service Award

We’re incredibly grateful for all that you do. We couldn’t do what we do without you—congratulations on these well-deserved honors! 💙

New federal research shows that rates of black lung disease have hit a 50-year high in Virginia, Kentucky and West Virgi...
08/19/2026

New federal research shows that rates of black lung disease have hit a 50-year high in Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia, outpacing the rest of the country’s rates by nearly 10 times.
https://ow.ly/W1uP50ZBsqn

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Johnson City, TN
37604

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