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 Kendra Weindling- Lake Irvington, Virginia
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Celebrate & Remember
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This Black History Month, we honor the pioneering Black public health leaders who have shaped the field and advanced health equity for all. Their work reminds us that public health is stronger when all voices are recognized, valued, and uplifted.
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Policy Updates
NRHA's Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026- Rural Health Summary
Congress passes full year FY 2026 funding bill. On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the House voted to pass a full-year funding package that includes the Labor, Health and Human Services (L-HHS) appropriations bill and rural health extenders.
National Rural Health Association's (NRHA) - Rural Health Legislative Tracker
NRHA’s legislative tracker enables you to view the rural health bills in Congress that the association is monitoring, including those we helped to create and endorse. Bills are searchable and categorized by topic area. By clicking on a bill, you can find its summary, review cosponsors, and stay up to date on congressional actions.
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Spotlight
Celebrating Virginia’s Critical Access Hospitals
We’re proud to highlight two outstanding leaders recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review on their “103 Critical Access Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know in 2025” list:
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Greg Madsen, President of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital
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Kristie Williams, President of Carilion Giles Community Hospital
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Career Connection
NCHWA Health Workforce Projections
The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) helps public and private organizations understand how changes in population will affect future workforce demands. In December 2025, NCHWA released projections for 2023-2038. This page provides summary information on those projections. All projections are available in the Workforce Projections Dashboard.
3RNET
The Nation’s Most Trusted Resource for Health Professionals Seeking
Careers in Rural and Underserved Communities. It is the job board when it comes to rural and underserved opportunities for over 300 different health care professions & specialties.
VDH - Virginia Primary Care Office
The Virginia Primary Care Office (PCO) housed in the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity supports the primary care workforce in the state through shortage designations, recruitment and retention activities, and administration of scholarship and loan repayment programs.
Visit the Virginia HPSA dashboard for Virginia Mental Health, Virginia Dental Care and Virginia Primary Care.
VDH - Health Workforce Incentive Programs
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers a variety of impactful programs to attract primary health professionals to underserved areas of Virginia.
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VDH Monthly Highlight
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The Virginia Department of Health has developed a Suicide - Maternal Health Campaign Toolkit to raise awareness and help prevent suicide. This toolkit includes videos, posters, social media graphics, suggested text, and GIFs. These ready-to-use materials facilitate the sharing of the campaign's message: "Find Help. Find Hope."
Please help spread awareness by sharing these resources within your networks and communities. Together, we can support parents and families and connect them to the help they deserve.
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Events & Learning
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FORHP 2026 Preview Webinar
Tuesday, February 17th 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm ET The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is hosting a webinar on a 2026 FORHP preview. This Preview Webinar will highlight priorities for the upcoming year, planned funding opportunities, available resources, and collaboration opportunities for Fiscal Year 2026.
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NHSC Loan Repayment Programs Applicant Webinar
Wednesday, February 18 at 2:00 pm ET HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce will hold a 90-minute webinar to assist with your application. Clinicians who join the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) could receive up to $100,000 to pay off student loans for working at NHSC-approved sites.
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Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Billing 101
Tuesday, February 24 at 2:00 pm ET The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host the free, FORHP-supported webinar with information for Rural Health Clinic (RHC) basic billing. This webinar will feature a subject matter expert. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required.
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The ABCs of Rural Wound Care Success: Keeping Patients Local, Improving Outcomes, and Strengthening Margins
March 18, 2026, 11 am - 12 pm Eastern The VRHA is hosting a free, one-hour webinar to learn about the ABCs of rural wound care success, advanced care, billing and community buy-in, and see what’s possible when clinical precision, financial insight and education come together to reshape rural wound care.
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Governor Spanberger Announces Expansion of Paid Internship Opportunities with Virginia Businesses
RICHMOND, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger launched InternshipsVA, a new statewide program to help Virginia employers design and launch high-quality, paid internships for higher education students in Virginia. The Commonwealth has committed $14.5 million each year to support this program.
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Connecting Southwest Virginia businesses with emerging talent at the region’s colleges and universities
The project, InternshipsVA, is administered through the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program, also known as the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership has chosen EO, an Abingdon-based nonprofit spinoff of the United Way of Southwest Virginia, to facilitate the program in GO Virginia regions 1 and 2, which cover Southwest Virginia and the New River and Roanoke valleys due to their experience with high school internship programs.
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Student Representatives for the VRHA Board of Directors - Applications Open in March 2026
The Virginia Rural Health Associations (VRHA) is seeking applications for their Student Representatives to the Board of Directors position. These persons will serve as a communication link between the current leaders of VRHA and the future ones. In order to meet this expectation, the students selected will need to interact with both the VRHA Board Members and students in a wide variety of health-related programs.
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On the Air
Podcasts are a great way to learn on the go. Below is a selection of rural health–focused podcasts that explore challenges, successes, and emerging trends impacting rural communities.
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Tracking Transformation: Great Healthcare Plan & Threats to Food Security with Michelle Rathman
On this episode, Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at KFF and Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP Director for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) join Michelle.
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Age Friendly Health Resources
What can be done to be sure our Vintage Virginians can live healthy lives for as long as possible? Pete Fronte of Altura Health joined RHV to discuss what patients and providers can do to maximize the quality of life in their golden years.
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Health & Wellness
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Chain Reaction: Homegrown Programs Encourage Safe Biking in Rural Areas by Gretchen Kauffman
This article on RHIhub highlights that biking is not only a healthy activity, but also an important mode of transportation for many rural residents. Across the country, rural nonprofits, libraries, and community groups are launching creative programs to promote safe biking and expand access for all ages.
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Lessons learned advancing nutrition equity through food as medicine
As Food as/is Medicine (FAM/FIM) programs expand nationwide, clinicians are seeking practical guidance on how to design interventions that meet the needs of people with limited resources. For nearly two decades, Marianna Wetherill, PhD, MPH, RD, DipACLM, associate professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, has been doing exactly that.
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Food as Medicine- Jumpstart Guide for Plant Based Eating
As you begin your journey into whole food, plant-based eating, this guide will help you plan delicious and nutritious meals, build confidence in the kitchen, and discover foods you truly enjoy.
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Follow Us!
"Like" us on Facebook and visit our website to stay connected on Virginia's rural health issues and important messages from our community partners.
Visit the VA-SORH Facebook Page | Visit our VA-SORH Website
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