The first day of the 2026 RHAA Annual Summit focused on numerous topics essential to improving rural health care access. One of these topics is, of course, legislation! Opening the floor was a discussion with Arkansas US Representative Bruce Westerman who gave a congressional perspective on how we lead rural health care forward. Additionally Brock Slabach, Vice President of the National Rural Health Association elaborated on rural health policy in a changing federal landscape. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor, Dr. Lowry Barnes, discussed the vision of UAMS leadership on advancing rural health in Arkansas. This was a fantastic precursor to the panel discussion, “Arkansas Rural Health Transformation: Strategy & Implementation” including Jim Hudson, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration; Janet Mann, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Human Services; David Long, Senior Manager, BDO, Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program; and Brad Nye, Director, Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program, Department of Finance & Administration. The initial day of the conference concluded with Dr. Sherry Turner, Associate Dean of GME/CME/DIO, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr. Amanda Deel, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University; Dr. Brian Jones, Vice Chancellor of Regional Programs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and Dr. Jessica Atrio, MD, MSc, Associate Dean Clinical Research, Alice Walton School of Medical as they advocated for the focus on training the next generation of Arkansas physicians. Lastly, attendees were able to listen to a lively discussion from Arkansas State Representatives Howard Beaty, Mary Bentley, Lee Johnson, Aaron Pilkington, and Senator Ben Gilmore regarding the state of legislative leadership as it impacts rural health.

We weren’t sure how the RHAA was going to top such well-informed presentations from the first day, but we were keen to find out on the second day of the event! Opening remarks were followed by a topic everyone is dying to know more about: AI! Dr. Andrew Ibrahim, Professor at the University of Michigan and CCO of Viz.ai presented “Advancing Rural Health in Arkansas: The Power of AI Implementation” which had everyone energized for the morning! Following his discussion included a presentation from Charity Hallman, Senior Vice President, Hope Enterprise Corporation and  Jay Taylor, Partner and Attorney, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP, about how to leverage new markets tax credits when attempting to solve financial hurdles in rural health transformation. In this same category was a panel presentation touching on how the Community Health Worker workforce in Arkansas needs advancement. Discussing the policies, payments, and practices that would make this possible included Cassie Cochran, Health Deputy Director, AR Department of Health; Judy Pile, Executive Director, Arkansas Community Health Worker Association; Dr. Pearl McElfish, Director, UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation; and Rosalinda Medrano Green, Assistant Director, UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.