U.S. Senator Al Franken, D-Minn., kicked off a rural health tour at the School of Public Health on Dec. 5. The event featured a roundtable discussion with eight rural Minnesota health leaders, including HPM Professor Ira Moscovice and HPM Assistant Professor Katy Kozhimannil.

Franken was recently named co-chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus and initiated discussions with health experts to assess gaps in care and identify the top health care needs of patients and providers in rural Minnesota.

The talks focused on the health care workforce and access to care issues.

Other rural health experts present were Raymond Christensen, assistant dean for rural health, UMN-Duluth Medical School; Valerie DeFor, executive director, HealthForce Minnesota; Ann Gibson, vice president, Federal Relations and Workforce, Minnesota Hospital Association; State Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL Duluth; Mark Schoenbaum, director, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Health, and Jennifer Lundblad, CEO of Stratis Health.

Franken will host similar listening sessions across greater Minnesota during his six-year term.

~ Post by Mona Rath