Rural Spotlight

MasterClass: Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Nicotine Use, February 25

February 3, 2026

MasterClass: Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Nicotine Use, February 25

Tune in on February 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for the Motivational Interviewing for Nicotine Use Master Class Webinar!

This FREE training is available to primary care and behavioral health providers, as well as LPHAs. Attendees will explore ways to enhance behavior change using the motivational interviewing approach and strategies and will practice engagement and evocation strategies in clinical conversations.

Pre-registration is required.

Objectives:

  • Explore ways to enhance behavior change using Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach,
  • Learn about the MI heart set, tasks, skills, and strategies, and
  • Practice engagement and evocation strategies in clinical conversations.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, February 25, 9:30 a.m.

Click Here to Register

Rural Health Research Alert: Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance

February 2, 2026

Rural Health Research Alert: Use of Preventive Services by Rurality, Disability Status, and Health Insurance

High-quality health care, including use of preventive services, is important to maximize health and well-being. Both rural residents and people with disabilities experience specific barriers to quality care but less is know about use of preventive care at the intersection of disability status and geographic location. Even less is known about how those relationships vary by insurance status. This policy brief examines rates of utilizing two types of preventive care (routine physicals and flu vaccination) by rural-urban location, disability status, and health insurance type.

Key Findings:

  • People with disabilities and adults 65 and older were more likely than their counterparts without disabilities and those under age 65 to have had a routine physical and to have received a flu vaccination within the last year.
  • People who were uninsured had much lower probabilities of having a routine physical compared to their privately insured counterparts, regardless of rurality or disability status, ranging from over 48% – 58% without insurance compared to over 79% – 88% with private insurance.
  • People who were uninsured had the lowest probabilities of flu vaccination, especially compared to people who were privately insured, regardless of rurality and disability. The lowest probability of flu vaccination overall was among uninsured rural residents without disability (19%).

Click Here to Read More

Apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

February 2, 2026

Apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program is accepting applications through March 12, 7:30 p.m. E.T.

Nurses employed full time in critical shortage facilities or teaching as nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing may be eligible to ay off up to 60 percent of nursing education debt with two years of Nurse Corps service. You may be able to reduce debt by an additional 25 percent with a third year of service.

Before you apply:

Get help with your application:

MRHA Webinar: Needs Assessment and Statewide Data, February 19

February 2, 2026

MRHA Webinar: Needs Assessment and Statewide Data, February 19

Join Libby Trammell, LCSW, for an engaging and accessible walkthrough of the most recent statewide Rural Health Needs Assessment. This session will highlight key data trends impacting rural Missouri, from workforce shortages and access-to-care challenges to emerging demographic shifts shaping community health.

Participants will learn to identify the leading causes of death in rural communities and explore how these patterns reflect broader health disparities. The webinar will also break down the concept of Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL), explaining what it measures, why it matters, and how it can guide planning, funding priorities, and local advocacy.

Who Should Attend:

  • Healthcare researchers,
  • Advocates, and
  • Workers who are seeking to strengthen their understanding of rural health data for planning, communication, and improvement efforts.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 19, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

 

MRHA Webinar: Investing in Rural Health, February 12

February 2, 2026

MRHA Webinar: Investing in Rural Health, February 12

Join Health Blue for an informative session exploring the company’s role in Missouri HealthNet and its commitment to improving health outcomes in rural communities. Participants will receive an overview of the health plan including Value-Added Benefits, and gain insight into strategies for addressing rural health disparities.

The webinar will also highlight Health Blue’s investments in the future of rural health professionals, including programs and opportunities designed to support rural health scholars. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how health plans, community organizations, and educational initiatives can work together to strengthen rural health systems.

Target Audience:

  • Health systems,
  • Community-based organizations,
  • Faith-based organizations,
  • Health departments,
  • FQHCs
  • School Districts,
  • Universities, and
  • Other organizations engaged in rural health

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 12, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

MRHA Webinar: Building Research – Ready Rural Clinics in Missouri, February 5

February 2, 2026

MRHA Webinar: Building Research – Ready Rural Clinics in Missouri, February 5

Rural communities contribute immense value to healthcare yet remain underrepresented in clinical research. This limited participation means fewer opportunities to shape medical advances that directly impact rural patients and practices. Many rural clinicians are interested in engaging in research but may face barriers related to time, training, or confidence in navigating complex study processes.

The Research Readiness Training program was created to change that. Developed by the University of Missouri, this program equips rural clinicians and healthcare staff with the skills, confidence, and infrastructure needed to participate in and lead clinical trials. Through practical, accessible training, participants learn how to integrate research into daily practice. Covering key areas such as participant recruitment, informed consent, and collaboration with academic researchers. By fostering research readiness, this program empowers rural healthcare teams to bring innovation closer to home and ensure that rural voices shape the future of medicine.

Target Audience:

  • Clinicians
  • Nurses
  • Healthcare staff serving rural communities

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 5, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Webinar: How Ascension Living is Balancing Per Diem Flexibility with Long-term Workforce Stability, February 10

January 27, 2026

Webinar: How Ascension Living is Balancing Per Diem Flexibility with Long-term Workforce Stability, February 10

Flexible staffing can enhance agility, but without the right design, it can strain teams and budgets. In today’s healthcare environment, leaders are increasingly pairing per diem staffing with centralized float pools and technology to optimize coverage, reduce administrative burden and support clinician well-being.

In this webinar, Erin Shadbolt, MSN, RN, CEO of Ascension Living, joins workforce strategy leaders to share how they’re achieving scalable staffing models that preserve continuity of care, reduce administrative burden and enhance the clinician experience.

Whether you’re navigating labor shortages or preparing for census surges, this session offers practical strategies to flex staffing without compromising team cohesion or financial stability.

Key learning points:

  • Use per diem talent to meet surge demand without losing team culture,
  • Leverage technology and data-rich dashboards to reduce manual work and optimize staffing decisions, and
  • Design staffing models that enhance clinician experience, reduce burnout and stabilize staffing.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 10, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Webinar: How Hospitals are Making Resident Well-Being Core to GME, February 5

January 27, 2026

Webinar: How Hospitals are Making Resident Well-Being Core to GME, February 5

Residency has always been demanding. But today’s trainees face new stressors layered on top of old ones: HER overload, reduced autonomy, economic pressure and social isolation.

Traditional mental health models weren’t built for this – and residents are feeling the strain.

In this live webinar, join Mickey Trockel, MD, director of evidence-based innovation for Stanford University School of Medicine’s WellMD Center and Robert Flora, MD, chief academic officer and vice president of academic affairs at McLaren Health Care, to examine how modern graduate medical education is reshaping the mental health landscape.

They’ll explore the unique vulnerabilities of residents, how the training environment is changing in ways leaders underestimate, and why common mental health approaches fail in GME and what actually works.

Insights include:

  • How new GME dynamics interact with longstanding mental health risks,
  • Why traditional wellness programs often fail and what to replace them with, and
  • Practical steps to embed mental health infrastructure across training programs.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 5, 11:00 am. – 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Save the Date: Workforce Development Summit, April 15 – 16

January 27, 2026

Save the Date: Workforce Development Summit, April 15 – 16

The Department of Corrections, in partnership with the Office of Administration, will host a two-day Reentry Employment Summit focused on hiring individuals reentering the workforce after completing the sentence with the Department of Corrections.

Day 1 – April 15, 2026 (State Agencies):

  • Missouri Reentry Statistics – Presented by the Council of State Governments
  • Lived Experience Panel – Featuring individuals and employers
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • Facility Tour at Algoa Correctional Center/Jefferson City Correctional Center

Day 2 – April 16, 2026 (Non-Governmental Employers):

  • Institutional Reentry Services
  • VR Headset Demonstration
  • Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development – Employer resources for second-chance hiring
  • Career & Technical Education Programs
  • Facility tour at ACC/JCCC

This summit is an excellent opportunity for stakeholders interested in second-chance employment to learn about the process, benefits, and available support services.

Additional details will be shared as they become available.

Registration is Open: MO GME Summit 2026

January 27, 2026

Registration is Open: MO GME Summit 2026

Join healthcare leaders, educators, policymakers, and community partners from across the state at the MO GME Summit 2026, taking place April 16-17. 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia, Missouri.

This annual gathering brings together healthcare leaders, educator teams, policymakers, clinical partners, and community stakeholders who share a commitment to strengthening Missouri’s physician workforce.

The Summit brings together stakeholders committed to growing residency training capacity, supporting sustainable GME programs, and retaining physicians in Missouri’s urban, rural, and underserved communities. Through expert-led sessions, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative discussions, participants will explore practical strategies and innovative models that support workforce development across the continuum – from program planning to long-term physician retention.

Whether your organization is expanding an existing residency program, preparing to launch a new one, or exploring GME as a workforce solution, the MO GME Summit offers timely insights, policy and funding updates, and meaningful opportunities to connect with partners shaping the future of medical education in Missouri.

Cost: $250.00

When: April 16-17

Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 3300 Vandiver Dr., Columbia, MO 65202

Click Here to Learn More and Register