FEATURE
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‘Georgia Rising’ draws near-capacity crowd at Macon Film Festival, debuts on GPB
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A near-capacity crowd watches “Georgia Rising: A Rural Health Story” during an Aug. 19 community screening at the Macon Film Festival. Photo by John Knight
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The challenges facing rural healthcare and the people dedicated to addressing them were spotlighted Aug. 19 during a community screening of “Georgia Rising: A Rural Health Story” at the Macon Film Festival.
It debuted on Georgia Public Broadcasting Aug. 24 and is available to stream on pbs.org.
“Georgia Rising” explores the complex struggles of rural healthcare across the state and shares the stories of those who have dedicated their life’s work to caring for people and developing innovative, proactive solutions for underserved communities.
Funded by Mercer University School of Medicine’s Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, “Georgia Rising” follows rural medical providers and their creative approaches to delivering care.
| | Scenes from the "Georgia Rising" orange carpet and screening event at the Douglass Theatre in Macon. Photos by John Knight/Leah Yetter | |
Ways to watch "Georgia Rising" | | |
Screening and Discussion
Host a screening and panel discussion for your group or organization. Submit your request below.
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Online Streaming
"Georgia Rising" is available to stream for free on pbs.org and through the PBS app.
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Learn more about the Georgia Heart Hospital Program and how you can support rural hospitals through your state taxes.
| | | | GRHIC welcomes new research assistants | | |
Kiarra Meadows and Adori Glover, APC, began the Rural Health Sciences Ph.D. program at Mercer University School of Medicine this year.
They joined current research assistants Christine Okaro and Alicia Roberts, LFMT, at the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center.
This year, research assistants will support a variety of rural health research projects across all stages of the research process, including a study examining kratom use and its implications for rural communities. Their work will include conducting literature reviews, assisting with the development of research methods and data collection tools, recruiting study participants, and supporting interviews, focus groups, surveys and community-based data collection. They will also help organize and analyze data and contribute to research reports, presentations and publications.
In addition to their research responsibilities, the research assistants will provide occasional administrative and logistical support for research and outreach activities, including helping prepare for conferences and other events organized by GRHIC. They will also have opportunities to participate voluntarily in GRHIC-organized health fairs and other community outreach activities. Through these experiences, the research assistants will gain hands-on exposure to research, community engagement and the broader work involved in advancing rural health initiatives.
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In partnership with CWC Alliance, Mercer University School of Medicine and its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center will host the second annual Prescription for Prevention conference on Mercer's Macon campus.
Credits are available for physicians, advanced practice practitioners and nurses.
Register Today
| | | GRHIC to host its annual Rural Physician and Provider Recruitment Fair | | |
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center's recruitment fairs connect rural hospitals and medical practices with physicians, advanced practice providers and medical students interested in opportunities to serve rural Georgia communities.
Oct. 8 | Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus
Oct. 29 | Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon
Nov. 3 | Mercer University School of Medicine, Valdosta
Nov. 5 | Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah
We invite rural recruiters to apply to participate.
Jobseekers and medical students may attend one of the available events this fall and join our email list. If you cannot attend a fair, you may submit a CV.
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Rural Farm Spotlight: HK Farms
by Kayla Stroud, Communications and Events Specialist
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HK Farms
Who: Handy Kennedy and Family
Where: Cobbtown, Georgia, Tattnall County
HK Farm's history dates to 1869, when Handy and Jane Kennedy, formerly enslaved, purchased 175 acres. The family expanded its landholdings over the years, passing the farm from one generation to the next.
“It’s about three different things: the lineage, the land and the legacy,” said fourth-generation farmer and rancher Handy Kennedy. “It’s in my blood. It’s in my DNA. We want to make sure that we don’t let the people who have done so much before us down.”
The family has grown cotton, tobacco, peanuts, squash and other crops and now sells beef through its cattle business, AU Beef. The farm also grows muscadines and peaches and leases land to other farmers.
Generations of family members still live on the property and work to preserve its legacy.
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Quick Picks Q&A
We spoke with members of the Kennedy family, including Handy Kennedy and niece Lindsey Brooks and niece-in-law Tiffani Johnson.
Favorite season on the farm?
“I feel like the middle of spring for me, because that’s when we really start planting stuff, and that’s the beginning of when you start seeing green.” — Lindsey Brooks
How do you feel your farm impacts your rural community?
“Whenever we’re able to grow vegetables and raise cattle and put that back into local food systems, that’s amazing.” — Handy Kennedy
What does this legacy farm mean to you?
"I think, as an in-law, just from the outside looking in, I can see the appreciation that they have for the legacy and the lineage — all the hard work that was done before them.” — Tiffany Johnson
“When you’re working and you’re doing things outside of the farm, you remember what our parents, what our grandparents, great-grandparents had done and say, ‘If they could do it in the times that they were in and with the labor and the resources that they had, then I know I could do it — not only on this farm, but whatever other endeavors that I have, too.’” — Lindsey Brooks
What are you looking forward to on the farm?
“The next trail ride will be in November. It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving. People start coming on Black Friday. They have the actual trail ride Saturday morning. Friday night we have a fish fry, oyster roast, DJ, and then Saturday night the same thing, but we have vendors that come out.” — Lindsey Brooks
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Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative
The KidsABC Rural Emergency Department Program hosted a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) exam review on Mercer’s Macon campus. The review course had 25 attendees from eight participating KidsABC hospitals across the state. The course covered a variety of medical emergencies, including respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and toxicological emergencies, as well as shock. Additionally, the KidsABC team has begun preparing to host a Pediatric Emergency Assessment and Stabilization Program in September at Colquitt Regional Medical Center and in October at Stephens County Hospital. NRP and PALS training for ED staff will also be scheduled. In collaboration with the evaluation team, surveys are being developed for participating hospitals to assess their progress, confidence and capabilities in treating pediatric emergencies in their communities. The surveys will be distributed in the fall. Meetings with new facilities and hospital leaders across the state also continue to provide information about the KidsABC program.
Rural Pediatric Support Collaborative
The August PAWS session featured GRHIC clinical behavioral health specialists Mercedes Madrid-Lowery, LCSW, and Joye Simmons, who presented Community Resiliency Model training to participants. The training also provided an opportunity to connect with school systems interested in exploring KidsABC offerings. The telehealth program continues to grow through scheduled appointments for pediatric patients in rural clinic settings. Telehealth onboarding and office training for Cohort 4 practices, including the delivery and setup of equipment, are ongoing.
Rural Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative
The KidsABC Rural Mental Health and Wellness team is preparing for the school screening season. Screening dates have been scheduled with Crawford, Putnam and Jefferson county school systems, with approximately 3,000 students expected to participate. The team continues to meet with rural school leaders and community partners to introduce the KidsABC school program, discuss available resources and answer questions about our screening and wellness offerings. Trainings on suicide, health and wellness are also being scheduled with additional school systems.
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Pediatric Alliance Webinar Series
Monthly | Virtual
The Pediatric Alliance Webinar Series (PAWS) is a free monthly training program offering one-hour virtual sessions led by subject matter experts. Topics include ADHD, anxiety and depression, SIDS, diabetes and more.
CME and CNE available.
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Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset
Monthly Meeting | Virtual
Each month, the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance hosts the Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset Zoom meeting, which focuses on topics related to stress and mental health in the agricultural community.
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Georgia Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine ECHO
September–October | Virtual
The Georgia Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine Conversations & Voices ECHO provides continued learning opportunities to mobile integrated health and community paramedicine professionals around the state. This ECHO is tailored to increase mobile integrated health professionals' and community paramedics’ understanding of specifics they may encounter in the field such as motivational interviewing, resilience training, and patient-centered communication. Mobile integrated health professionals and community paramedics are encouraged to attend to increase their networks of support with peers and subject matter experts.
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ABOUT THE CENTER
Mercer University School of Medicine’s Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center was established to address the complex healthcare challenges and disparities faced by rural communities throughout the state. The School of Medicine boasts a longstanding commitment to serving rural Georgia’s health needs, with a mission to educate physicians dedicated to tackling the health challenges in rural Georgia. The Rural Health Innovation Center serves as a critical resource to rural communities to improve access and effectiveness of healthcare by offering research, collaboration and training opportunities.
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