Decker College celebrates National Rural Health Day with a community event
Public encouraged to learn more about rural healthcare and area providers
Binghamton University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences is hosting a National Rural Health Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the University’s Health Sciences Building, 48 H. Stenger Place in Johnson City, New York.
Decker College’s National Rural Health Day celebration will highlight the “Power of Rural” by honoring healthcare providers, communities, and organizations that address the unique medical needs of rural America. Co-sponsored by the college’s divisions of nursing and public health, the event features representatives from local rural-serving organizations, Narcan training sessions, and light refreshments. It is free and open to the public.
“National Rural Health Day is celebrated annually to highlight the unique challenges faced by rural communities and to promote the health and well-being of individuals who live in rural areas,” explained Yvonne Johnston, associate professor and founding director of Binghamton's Division of Public Health.
“We celebrate this special event by recognizing local public health departments, healthcare systems, and community-based organizations that serve rural residents. We bring these agencies together at Decker College so health professionals and community members can learn about the many programs and services that are available in our Southern Tier region,” she added.
One of the vital resources available for addressing the needs of rural communities is the University’s O’Connor Office of Rural Health, founded in 1997 with funding from the A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Foundation. “Our office advances its mission through collaborative projects, community partnerships, and interprofessional education initiatives, including this event,” said Johnston, who directs the O’Connor Office.
Nicole Rouhana, associate professor of nursing and director of graduate nursing programs, added: “Decker College has a 50-year history of preparing nurses to care for rural and underserved families, and we’re proud that we have become experts in providing nurses with the skills needed to meet the unique challenges of working in these settings.”
For the past decade, Rouhana has led a Health Resources and Services Administration-funded program that provides tuition support to nurse practitioner students from rural locations who plan to practice in rural or underserved areas after certification. More than 100 advanced practice nurses have benefited from this federal grant.
“Over the last 10 years, we have opened up funding streams that allow nurse practitioner students to graduate with minimal debt, while bolstering the number of healthcare providers across New York state and in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Rouhana added.
Organizations scheduled to take part in the National Rural Health Day celebration include:
- Binghamton University Office of Emergency Management
- Binghamton University The Rural and Underserved Service Track
- Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency
- Finger Lakes Community Health
- Rural Health Network
- Southern Tier AIDS Program
- Upstate New York Poison Center
Narcan training will be offered at 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, and 1:30 p.m.
Pre-registration for the event is recommended; register at https://cglink.me/2eQ/r2303454.