In the News
HHS Invests Nearly $15 Million to Prevent and Treat
Stimulant Use in Rural Communities 
June 8, 2022
Publisher: HHS Press Office
Community Health Improvement Week 2022 (June 6th - 10th)
The Southwest Rural Health Research Center celebrated Community Health Improvement Week (CHIW) from June 6th to June 10th. The purpose of Community Health Improvement Week is to honor health professional who work closely with communities and dedicate their lives to improving the health of others. During CHIW, we highlighted our staff members and Community Health Workers who make a continual difference in the health of our Texas communities.
Doctors across state borders: Telehealth study could inform policy
June 6, 2022
Publisher: Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan
Pace of New Rural Vaccinations Remains Flat for Last Two Months
June 2, 2022
Publisher: The Daily Yonder
Texas C-STEP June 2022 Newsletter
View our Texas C-STEP June 2022 Newsletter to learn more about the Southwest Rural Health Research Center's lung cancer grant funding and our upcoming outreach events in June, July, and August.
2021 Rural Border Health Chartbook Released
Publisher: National Rural Health Association
World No Tobacco Day 2022
The Southwest Rural Health Research Center raised awareness for World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, 2022, a day dedicated to raise awareness about the damage that consuming tobacco has on our health and the environment. The SRHRC continues its' efforts in Texas to provide lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation resources to our targeted counties through our Increasing Accessibility to Smoking Cessation and Lung Cancer Screening Services for Low-income/Uninsured Texans grant.
Community health workers help reduce unnecessary hospital visits
May 19, 2022
Publisher: Healio
America's mental health care deserts: Where is it hard to access care?
May 18, 2022
Publisher: ABC News
"No other option": Telehealth could be rural healthcare's savior
May 17, 2022
Publisher: MedCity News
National Women's Health Week 2022 (May 9th - 13th)
National Women's Health Week (NWHW) takes place during the second week of May and is dedicated to encouraging women and girls to reflect on their individual health needs and to take step to improve their overall health. During NWHW, the Southwest Rural Health Research Center highlighted it's Women's Health grant, which is funded through the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and prevention education to uninsured, underserved, and low-income residents of Texas. Over a 17-county region in Central Texas, the Women's Health grant functions to increase access to preventative cancer screenings for patients and increase the number of providers trained to perform cancer screening and diagnostic procedures.
Travel Burden for Healthcare Among Rural Populations Podcast
Listen to the podcast HERE.
The director of the Southwest Rural Health Research Center, Alva Ferdinand, DrPH, JD, joined Marvellous Akinlotan, PhD, research assistant professor at the SRHRC, to share insights from their recent study Variations in Travel Burdens Associated with Access to Care Between Rural and Urban Residents on the Exploring Rural Health podcast with Rural Health Information Hub.
SRHRC Staff and students recognized at Student
Recognition & Awards Banquet
On April 29, 2022 Southwest Rural Health Research Center staff and students were inducted into the Texas A&M School of Public Health Alpha Tau chapter of Delta Omega. Delta Omega is the national public health honor society for the schools of public health across the United States. Membership in Delta Omega reflects the dedication of an individual to quality in the field of public health and to the protection and advancement of the health of all people. Election to membership in Delta Omega is intended, not only to recognize scholastic merit, but also to encourage further excellence in, and devotion to, public health. It is a high honor for a graduating student to be selected for membership in the society.
Patient Experience Week (April 25th - 29th)
Patient Experience Week is an annual event, taking place during the last week of April, that celebrates healthcare staff impacting patient experiences everyday. During Patient Experience Week, the Southwest Rural Health Research Center highlighted selected patient testimonials from women impacted by our Women's Health grant services.
As Eating Disorders Spike During Pandemic, Rural Treatment Options Lag
April 19, 2022
Publisher: Kaiser Health News
Nearly Half of Rural Hospitals Lose Money on Childbirth Services
April 13, 2022
Publisher: The Daily Yonder
Texas C-STEP Newsletter Launch
View our Texas C-STEP March 2022 Newsletter to learn more about the Southwest Rural Health Research Center's colorectal cancer grant funding and our upcoming outreach events in April and May.
Community Health Worker Day 2022
April 8th was Community Health Worker Day in Texas. The Southwest Rural Health Research Center celebrated by highlighting our Community Health Workers who provide invaluable education, outreach, and navigation for colorectal, lung, breast, and cervical cancer screenings to our Texas communities.
National Public Health Week 2022
During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation.The Texas A&M School of Public Health celebrated National Public Health Week with events taking place each day of the week.
April is National Minority Health Month
National Minority Health Month highlights the important role individuals and organizations can play in working to reduce health disparities and improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities. This year's theme was Give Your Community a Boost in response to the continued importance of COVID-19 vaccination as one of the strongest tools we can use to protect communities from COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected communities of color.
April in National Cancer Control Month
In April, the Southwest Rural Health Research Center stood with other organizations nationwide to honor those affected by cancer by committing to strategies aimed at reducing the burden of cancer. Learn more about cancer control HERE.
Rural Population Bounces Back in 2021
March 28, 2022
Publisher: The Daily Yonder
New Statistics Available From the 2016-2020 American Community
Survey 5-Year Estimates
March 17, 2022
Publisher: United States Census Bureau
2022 Article of the Year
A Southwest Rural Health Research Center publication, Rural and Urban Differences in COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors, conducted by our own Alva Ferdinand, DrPH, JD and Timothy Callaghan, PhD along with Jennifer Lueck, PhD and Kristin Lunz Trujillo, ABD, was selected as the 2022 Article of the Year by the Journal of Rural Health.
National No Smoking Day
March 9th was National Smoking day, a day designed as a time to reach out to friends and family members who suffer from nicotine use. The Southwest Rural Health Research Center continues its' efforts in Texas to provide lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation resources to our targeted counties through our Increasing Accessibility to Smoking Cessation and Lung Cancer Screening Services for Low-income/Uninsured Texans grant.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month has grown to be a rallying point for the colorectal cancer community where thousands of patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates throughout the country join together to spread colorectal cancer awareness by wearing blue, holding fundraising and education events, talking to friends and family about screening and so much more. The Southwest Rural Health Research Center participated through our attendance of 6 health events events in which we served alongside over 30 vendors to raise health/cancer awareness, reaching over 300 community members both directly and indirectly. The SRHRC also collaborated with La Voz Hispana to host a Facebook Live on colorectal cancer awareness and announced our involvement on ABC25 News and Radio Alegria.
HHS Distributing $560 Million in Provider Relief Fund Payments
to Health Care Providers Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic
February 24, 2022
Publisher: United States Department of Health & Human Services
SRHRC Awarded Colorectal Grant Funding
The Southwest Rural Health Research Center and the Texas A&M Family Medicine Residency program was awarded $2.5MM by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. The grant will allow us to provide colorectal, gallbladder, and liver cancer screening, as well as education and navigation services to rural and medically underserved populations in 23 Texas counties. Learn more about our Colorectal grant HERE.
International Childhood Cancer Day
February 15th was International Childhood Cancer Day, a campaign that expresses support for children with cancer, survivors, and their families. It also spotlights the need for equitable and better access to care for all children with cancer.