News Release
April 20, 2010
Contact information

Annual rural health conference focuses on embracing change

Professionals interested in rural health encouraged to register now for June 28-29 conference


The Minnesota Rural Health Conference, Leading Change for Rural Health, will be held June 28-29 in Duluth, Minnesota. Health care professionals, state and local policymakers and students will gather for this two-day event to discuss how rural health care providers and communities can flourish in this time of change.

Conference highlights:

  • Rural health policy forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Rural Health Association, will feature invited Minnesota gubernatorial candidates.
  • The 2010 Minnesota Rural Health Awards presentation will highlight nominees’ significant contributions to rural health.
  • Patricia Moten Marshall, president of SynerChange Chicago, will kick off the conference with a look at how health care organizations can lead change.
  • Paul Moore, senior policy advisor at the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, will review the rural impact of recent federal health care developments.
  • Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan will close the conference with Minnesota’s vision for a better state of health.

The conference will also provide updates on Minnesota’s new health care reform efforts, including community efforts to establish patient-centered health care homes. Break-out sessions will explore health information technology and telemedicine resources. Additional presentations will focus on innovative efforts to recruit and retain health care providers, build health care-school partnerships, preserve rural pharmacies, and keep seniors healthy and safe.

The annual Minnesota Rural Health conference is a joint venture of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the Minnesota Rural Health Association and the Rural Health Resource Center. For more information or to register, visit http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/conf/index.html.

-MDH-

For more information, contact:

John Stieger
MDH Communications
651-201-4998

Mark Schoenbaum
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
651-201-3859