Submitted by: Farley Health Policy Center | Presented in English with Spanish interpretation

We’ve all encountered them—myths about our rural neighbors—whether in public discourse or during conversations with family and friends. For example, a common belief is that rural Coloradans are all white, conservative and vote the same way. Their poorer health status—relative to their urban counterparts—is solely the result of personal life choices. Another is that rural Colorado communities are incapable of solving their own challenges. These biases generate narratives that are harmful and promote misunderstanding, furthering a rural-urban divide rather than rural-urban partnerships. During this interactive, guided discussion, we will identify pervasive myths about rural people and places, provide examples of community-led solutions to common health and health care challenges rural communities face, and share practical strategies to expand our concept of health equity to more authentically embrace and center lived rural experiences.

Presenters: 

•  Lauren Hughes, State Policy Director and Family Physician, Farley Health Policy Center
•  Liza Creel, Associate Professor, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, University of Colorado, Farley Health Policy Center
•  Kevin Stansbury, Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Community Health

Objectives:

• Discuss a range of myths about rural people and places in Colorado that lead to misunderstanding and a lack of commitment to collaborate with one another.
• Share examples of how Colorado rural community leaders have identified and solved their own health and health care challenges—and how larger cities can learn from their experiences.
• Identify practical strategies for expanding our perspectives on health equity to intentionally include rural voices.