November 19-20
Wintergreen Resort
Mountain Inn Building
For over twenty years, the Virginia Rural Health Association has served as “The Voice for Rural Health in Virginia.” Rural Health is DIFFERENT. Rural Americans face a unique combination of factors that create disparities in health care not found in urban areas. Economic factors, cultural and social differences, educational differences, lack of recognition by legislators and the isolation of living in remote rural areas all conspire to impede rural Americans in their struggle to lead a normal, healthy life. This event focuses on the opportunity for rural health stakeholders to hold in-depth conversations about how the issues in our communities can be addressed.
The Rural Health Voice Conference is an occasion to recognize that health in rural areas is not the sole responsibility of doctors and nurses. Education, economic development, transportation, the built environment, and even social opportunities play a role in the health of individuals and communities. All aspects of the community are providers or barriers to health.
Quick Links:
- Agenda
- Hotel Information
- Registration Details
- Student Posters/Scholarships
- 2025 VRHA Awards
- Sponsor/Exhibitor Information
2025 Speakers
Workforce Development
G. Bryan Slater
Secretary of Labor
Commonwealth of Virginia
Physician Recruitment
Dr. Wendy Welch
Executive Director
Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium
Wendy is the the executive director of the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium and the author, coauthor, or editor of seven books, including the forthcoming Medical Mistrust from University of Tennessee Press in February 2026. She advocates for social justice in health care and other critical areas of development across Appalachia.
View from the Hill
Alexa McKinley Abel, J.D.
Government Affairs/Policy Coordinator
National Rural Health Association
In her role as government affairs and policy coordinator, Alexa provides policy and research support for rural health policy and programmatic interests for the U.S. Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and other relevant state and non-governmental organizations. Before joining NRHA Alexa earned a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. During law school she interned with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a Pittsburgh-based corporation, and served clients at the Pitt Environmental Law Clinic. Previously, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University where she interned with the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the Department of Education and served as a fellow at MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.
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Breakout Sessions:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Substance Use Disorder
Mary Jo Hedrick, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute
Mary Jo Hedrick, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute. She focuses on how communities and environments influence child development and how early risk and protective factors predict future substance use. Mary Jo is passionate about equipping communities to become protective factors for children and young people who are at high risk for substance use.
Dr. Andrea Clements
Associate Director of Research Design and Implementation
ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute
Dr. Andrea Clements (Andi) is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University and Associate Director of Research Design and Implementation at the ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute. She is also President and co-founder of Uplift Appalachia, a nonprofit focused on equipping churches to walk with people who live with addictions and mental health challenges. She is well-known researcher who has developed, delivered, and studied trainings for varied audiences around trauma-responsiveness and ACEs science. Her book, The Trauma Informed Church is the basis for many of those trainings. She regularly mentors people who live with addictions and those who have been or currently are incarcerated.
Mental Healthcare in Youth
Angel Mefford
Family Crisis Support Services
Zero Suicide Framework/Implementation
Wendy Bundy
Zero Suicide Coordinator
Virginia’s Zero Suicide Hub
As the Zero Suicide Coordinator for the Virginia Zero Suicide Hub since March 2024, Wendy brings a wealth of experience to this role, with a diverse background in emergency services, higher education, and peer support. She’s dedicated to advocacy, sharing her lived experience with mental health and trauma to help others feel less alone. Wendy is also an adjunct professor at Germanna Community College and an award-winning leader in this space, having earned both the Disability Law Center of Virginia’s Impact Award and NAMI’s Lionel Aldridge Champions Award in previous years for her exceptional leadership and service. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Community College Leadership from Old Dominion University.
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Rural Complications and Benefits of REACH Grants
Bryan Price
Program Manager
Virginia Rural Health Association
Bryan Price is a native of Danville, Virginia and currently resides in South Boston, Virginia. Bryan studied Statistics, Mathematics & Computer Science at Virginia Tech. His passion is fitness, Urban Line Dancing, and advocating for racial equity and healthy living in his community. He is Board Chair for Equality Virginia and a board member of The Health Collaborative, Regional Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Southwest Advisory Board, and the VDH Community HIV Planning Group. He is a graduate of the 2018 Class of LEAD Virginia and 2021 graduate of the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Fellows program. He was also appointed by former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to serve on the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council.
Roshay Richardson
Breastfeeding Coordinator
Virginia Rural Health Association
Roshay, known as the SolFlower, is a passionate birthworker with autism, channeling her special interest in maternal health. As a community ambassador, doula, Lamaze International certified childbirth educator, and lead chair of the Maternal Health Taskforce for The Health Collaborative, she tirelessly advocates for the well-being of mothers & their families. Beyond her roles, she is a devoted mom, wife & friend. Created to create, Roshay finds solace and expression in many art forms with writing being her absolute favorite, weaving words to capture the beauty and complexity of life.
Cindi Poteat
Nutrition Coordinator
Virginia Rural Health Association
Rural Resilience: Supporting Mothers, Saving Lives
Pamela Chitwood
Population Health Manager
VDH West Piedmont Health District
Value Based Care for the Medicare Population
Pete Fronte, MBA
Altura Health
CLINICAL CARE
Strategic Risk: What Do Rural Healthcare Leaders Need to Know?
Jeffrey Sommer
Managing Director
Stroudwater Associates
Clare Kelley
Senior Consultant
Stroudwater Associates
Life Saving Rural Trauma Tips – How Targeted Education Improves Outcomes
Ottilia Lewis
Trauma Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Rural Cancer Care Delivery
Wade Swenson
Founder
Rural Cancer Institute
Wade Swenson, MD, MPH, MBA, is a medical oncologist committed to advancing cancer care in underserved rural communities. As Medical Director at Lakewood Health System, he leads strategic initiatives to improve access, quality, and outcomes in rural oncology. He also serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of North Dakota, and contributes to national quality and policy efforts through his leadership roles with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Swenson is the founder of the Rural Cancer Institute, an organization dedicated to addressing cancer disparities and driving innovative solutions for rural populations.
Agenda
Wednesday, November 19
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Welcome
9:15 Physician Recruitment – Dr. Wendy Welch (Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium)
10:15 Break
10:30 Breakout Sessions
11:45 Lunch/Awards Ceremony
2:00 Breakout Sessions
3:15 Break
3:30 Breakout Sessions
4:45 Break
5:00 Student Poster Competition & Reception
Thursday, November 20
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Student Essay Winner
9:30 View from the Hill – Alexa McKinley Abel, J.D. (National Rural Health Association)
11:00 Workforce Development – G. Bryan Slater (Secretary of Labor, Commonwealth of Virginia)
12:00 Conference Ends
Lodging Information
Wintergreen Resort
GPS Address: 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Roseland, VA
During the winter months, the Blue Ridge Parkway is frequently closed. We recommend following Rt 151 in Nelson County.
To Book a Room, Call (855) 826 – 5861 and let them know you need the VRHA rate.
Room Rate: $129 per night (+ 10% resort fee, 12.3% sales tax)
Accessibility Note: Please notify hotel staff if you need a room with few or zero steps.
Registration
Event registration includes a 2026 VRHA membership for one individual (does not apply to organizational memberships)
*Early Bird Pricing – ends October 21st!*
- VRHA Members– $225
- Discount Code available every week in VRHA’s e-newsletter
- Discount Code available every week in VRHA’s e-newsletter
- Non-Member Rate – $280
- Students – $95 Both Days
- 11/19 Only: $75.00
- 11/20 Only: $30.00
Reduced rate for one-day attendance is only available to students.
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CANCELLATIONS/REFUND POLICY:
- For cancellations received by The Virginia Rural Health Association at least 30 days prior to a conference or seminar, a full refund, less a 30% processing fee, will be provided to the registrant.
- For cancellations received less than 30 days prior to a conference or seminar, a credit towards attendance at a future conference or seminar will be provided.
- No refunds or credits will be provided for no-shows and cancellation notifications received after the conference or seminar is held.
Student Essay Contest – “Why Rural?”
VRHA is inviting students who are in any health or public policy program to submit essays on why they want to serve rural communities. Three essays will be selected to receive free conference registration.
The author of the winning essay will have the honor of reading the essay at the conference, plus 2 complimentary nights at the hotel and a $500 cash prize!
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Student Poster Presentations
VRHA is now accepting applications for Poster Presentations from health and public policy students at the conference. A maximum of 15 applications will be approved for presentation.
Prizes:
First Place: $500
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $100
The Poster Presentations provide participants with the ideal opportunity to disseminate information to other rural health stakeholders. Poster Presentations may include research projects, case studies, clinical evaluations, case presentations, observations, unusual or uncommon situations and other topics as they relate to rural health. All types of health professions and public policy students are encouraged to submit applications for consideration. Posters co-authored by professionals are acceptable as long as the student is the lead author and presenter
All posters must have a Virginia perspective: either submitted by a student from Virginia, or by a student attending a Virginia school, or a poster topic on a Virginia issue. Entries with no relation to Virginia will not be considered.
Submission information and general instructions:
- Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed by the planning committee.
- SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
- Presenters may not use posters to market products or services; exhibit space is available for that purpose.
- No honoraria or travel expense reimbursement will be provided.
- The presenter is responsible for having the poster printed and bringing a display easel to the event.
Categories & Judging:
Presentations will be reviewed and judged by the following criteria –
- Rural relevance (30 points)
- Presenter – enthusiastic, professional, well-prepared (20 points)
- Interpretation of data (10 points)
- Abstract or summary of findings (10 points)
- Proper reference/citations (10 points)
- Background & Rationale (10 points)
- General overview/layout of the poster (10 points)
2025 VRHA Awards
All Virginia Rural Health Association members and member organizations are invited to submit nominations for the 2025 Virginia Rural Health Association Awards. Nominees are not required to be members of the association. Commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia may be in the form of direct provision of health care services, governmental or educational advocacy, activities or research that improves the health of communities or populations.
Awardees Categories:
Lawmaker of the Year – Lawmaker of the Year is designed to give special recognition to an elected official at any level who has demonstrated support for improving health in rural Virginia.
The Charles Crowder, Jr. Award – This award is given annually by the Virginia Rural Health Association to recognize outstanding individual commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia.
The Best Practices in Rural Health Award – This award is given annually by the Virginia Rural Health Association to recognize a program or institution that exemplifies commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia.
The Ken Studer Friend of the Association Award – This award is given to recognize a program, institution or individual that has advocated for or aided the Association in support of the Association’s mission.
Read about our past honorees here.
Sponsor/Exhibitor Information
The Rural Health Voice Conference creates unique networking opportunities and a forum to discuss how we can strengthen the healthcare safety net through collaboration, share best practices and best utilize community resources. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Target Audience:
The conference is attended by approximately 125-150 people, which includes facility executives, academic faculty, clinic staff, government officials, health professions students and more.
2025 Rural Health Voice Conference Sponsors:
PLATINUM
DIAMOND
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
BAG SPONSOR
EXHIBITORS
For more information about the conference or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Meghan Stump
Executive Assistant
meghan@vrha.org