22nd Northwest Regional Rural health Conference, March 19 & 20, 2009

March 19 & 20, 2009 Red Lion Hotel at the Park Spokane, Washington

Join colleagues from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska at this 22nd annual gathering of rural health leaders and advocates to share strategies and cutting edge ideas, discuss innovations and out-of-the-box ideas, and share success stories of small efforts that have grown larger.

This year’s conference focus is on small initiatives that led to better community health through program expansion, larger health systems change, policy implementation, and other community-based programs that grew into larger initiatives at regional, state or national levels.

Sessions will focus on an exchange of information about local community programs and strategies that can be models for changing rural health and health care delivery at the state and regional levels.

Each year more than 200 rural health professionals and advocates gather to share and learn about collaborative rural models, innovative community projects, quality initiatives, and other underlying themes that shape the way business is conducted in the area of rural health. The conference is designed to be of interest to a wide range of rural health advocates including rural clinicians, community leaders, administrators, board members, commissioners, policy makers, public health professionals, educators, and others.

Carl Hammerschlag, MD, CPAE
Dr. Carl Hammerschlag is an expert on how people and organizations thrive in rapidly changing times. His insight on the importance of sustaining connections and building community is inspirational.

Scott Ekblad, Director, Oregon Office of Rural Health
Mr. Ekblad will discuss how to ready your community for recruitment and retention of health care providers.

• Alaska: Beth Landon, President National Rural Health Association; Director Alaska Center for Rural Health-AHEC
  
  
• Idaho: Ted Epperly, MD, President American Academy of Family Physicians
  
  
• Montana: Kristin Juliar, Director Montana AHEC & Office Rural Health
  
  
• Oregon: Paul McGinnis, Community Health, Quality and Practice Development Director at OR Rural Practice-based Research Network
  
  
• Washington: Mary Looker, CEO, WA Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers

A call for presentations went out in September for breakout sessions. For more information on presentation topics and submission guidelines go to www.ahec.spokane.wsu.edu.

Enjoy the joint conference reception with colleagues from across the Northwest on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 which follows the NW Regional Critical Access Hospital Conference that same day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the same location.

For more information on both conferences including exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, go online to www.ahec.spokane.wsu.edu or contact the Area Health Education Center of E. WA, WSU Extension at ahec@wsu.edu or 509.358.7640.