We are saddened to share the passing of Hal Leftwich, a long-time member of Rural Health Association of Tennessee and an active member of our Legislative Committee.
Hal had more than 40 years of experience in healthcare leadership, serving the last seven years as CEO of Big South Fork Medical Center in Oneida. He worked in hospitals large and small but had a special love for rural hospitals.
The Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development is thrilled to announce their inaugural TCWD Middle TN Discovery Summit, hosted by Belmont University and sponsored by TN HOSA, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This event is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen healthcare pathways by offering professional insights and showcasing vital programs and resources for anyone interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
TCWD invites high school and early college students across Middle Tennessee to join them for a unique event designed to ignite interest in the diverse and rewarding field of healthcare. This is an incredible opportunity for students to explore the many career paths available, hear directly from industry professionals, and gain insights into what it takes to succeed in this dynamic field.
Partners in Policymaking is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 class!
Partners in Policymaking® is a FREE leadership and advocacy training program from the TN Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The below is from the Cleveland Daily Banner, December 30, 2023
Rural Health of Association of Tennessee celebrated National Rural Health Day on November 16th in Knoxville, Tennessee at our 29th annual conference, "Shining a Light on Rural Health: Advocating for a Brighter Future." The conference was a dynamic and engaging three days of learning from experts in rural health fields across the state, bringing together professionals within the healthcare field. It provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences, fostering growth and collaboration. Attendees were able to benefit from a diverse range of presentations and panel discussions delivered by leaders in Tennessee. Networking opportunities allowed attendees to establish valuable connections, share insights, and explore potential collaborations.
The 2023 Membership Voting is open Voting will remain open through November 16th (Rural Health Day) and results will be shared at our Annual Member Meeting on Friday November 17th (end of Annual Conference).
The voting link will also be available in RHA's Conference App.
Action for Healthy Kids has allocated nearly $30 million in subgrants to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia, as part of a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. This initiative aims to enhance student nutrition and meal quality in high-need schools. This program marks the largest targeted investment by the USDA for school meal programs in small and rural communities, promoting better nutrition for all students.
The funds, provided by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, will benefit small and rural school districts, empowering them to modernize their operations and provide healthier meals. Each eligible school district can receive up to $150,000, which can be used for activities like staff training, kitchen upgrades, redesigning food service spaces, and bringing in educated nutrition/dietician staff.
This week we recognize our community health centers in honor of National Community Health Centers Week, August 6th-12th. Community Health Centers (CHCs) dismantle obstacles to healthcare by catering to every patient, regardless of their insurance situation or financial capacity. They furnish care that is culturally and linguistically suitable, and extend enabling services to tackle non-medical necessities.
CHCs represent consumer-oriented and patient-centric institutions that fulfill the role of a comprehensive and economically viable primary healthcare solution for the most marginalized communities. These centers enhance healthcare accessibility and deliver integrated services tailored to the distinct needs of the populations they support.
passionate about helping boys, men, and their families achieve true health and wellness.The CMHE program is also available, on a fee basis, to interested individuals and organizations. For information on how to enroll, please email cmhe@ healthymen.org.
Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) celebrated National Rural Health Day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on November 17, 2022, to honor those who work every day to help keep Tennessee healthy.
The celebration was part of a three-day event bringing rural health providers, school health, and others together to deepen understanding of rural health issues and celebrate rural leaders leading the way for a healthy tomorrow throughout rural Tennessee. The below individuals were recognized for their outstanding service to rural health.
Congratulations Ann Cranford the Director of the Recruitment and Retention Program in the State Office of Rural Health.
Ann has been a member of RHA for several years. Recently, at the 3RNet Annual Conference she received the Fred Moskol Award. This award recognizes a person who possesses outstanding leadership abilities, supports the mission of 3RNET, responds compassionately to the healthcare needs of rural and underserved populations and does so with a collaborative and compassionate spirit.
Allie Haynes will represent Rural Health Association of Tennessee on Tennessee Council on Developmental 
Disabilities. The Council, established by the federal Developmental Disabilities Act (Spanish language version of the Developmental Disabilities Act.) and by Tennessee Executive Order 50 exists to:
To learn more about the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, visit their website.
GetCovered Tennessee, a healthcare access program of Family and Children’s Service, is a great resource
here in Tennessee! They are the state grantee for connecting uninsured Tennesseans with health insurance through TNCARE/CoverKids/Affordable Care Act. FCS is a non-profit offering free healthcare access service in all 95 Tennessee counties, and their services are free of charge. In addition to enrollment, they also provide educational training on TNCARE/Coverkids/Affordable Care Act or Health Assist Safety net programs, such as how to use your insurance coverage and what the insurance terms mean.
GetCoveredTenn is a non-profit program providing free health insurance enrollment and healthcare advice to all Tennesseans. GetCoveredTenn has a team of 20 experts to help Tennesseans find quality healthcare through affordable insurance, access to community-based healthcare services, or both. Their services are free and unbiased.
Sabrina Blue is the Founder and CEO of Helping Hands of Middle and West Tennessee (HHT). The mission of HHT is to build stronger communities and help improve health outcomes for West Tennessee families. HHT provides dental, medical, and medical insurance assistance to families earning no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Blue is an Associate Pastor with the Historic First Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. Her mission is to look at the deficit of the resources in rural Tennessee and figure out how to deliver holistic healthcare to the residents of rural West Tennessee.
Rural Health Association of TN's members A Step Ahead Chattanooga has a commitment to removing barriers
to contraception through education, outreach, and access to free birth control.
A Step Ahead Chattanooga serves 18 counties across Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia, and Northeast Alabama (Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie, Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield, DeKalb, and Jackson counties).
Nurse staffing shortages is a hot topic, not just in rural America, but everywhere, making nurse education ever
more important. Educating nurses and preparing them to take care of the members of their community requires educational leadership. Hear how one nurse educator is making a difference in rural Tennessee as we talk about educational challenges and generational differences. We are having that discussion with Dr. Christie Manasco, Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Nursing.
Rural Medical Centers has clinics located in mountains where there is no internet or cell service, and in the middle of a tomato field. As you might imagine, they have a few challenges providing healthcare services. You can listen to a very interesting conversation with Jessica Zimmerman and Alexis Andino who are both with Rural Medical Services in East Tennessee.
and returned home. That “homegrown kid” is now the Chief Nursing Officer of Bolivar General Hospital in Bolivar, TN.
Appalachian region. Robyn Seamon has earned advanced degrees, studied, and conducted research to help prepare her to serve Appalachian residents.Tyler Melton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at the 
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), College of Pharmacy. He has nine years of pharmacy practice experience including inpatient and outpatient pharmacy in rural environments. Tyler joined UTHSC in September of 2020, after completing a postdoctoral research fellowship in Community Pharmacy Practice and Prescription Drug Abuse and earning his Master of Public Health from East Tennessee State University. His areas of research expertise include community pharmacy practice, rural health, health disparities, and prescription drug abuse.
