Our team is composed of long-term rural residents and healthcare executives. Our passion to help rural communities thrive comes from our lived experience — and over 300 years of rural health and hospital operations experience across our team — and we are committed to addressing rurally relevant issues through creative and practical approaches.
Ken Harman is a Regional Liaison with the Rural Health Redesign Center and the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center for the Midwest and Western States. He brings over 30 years’ healthcare experience, with the last 20 years being a rural Critical Access Hospital CEO. He has served in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, California, Utah and Minnesota. He graduated in 1996 from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and from the University of Utah in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science in Economics. He has a passion for rural healthcare and in assisting organizations and communities in sustaining and growing to take care of community needs.
Holly brings over 23 years of Healthcare Finance experience and is dedicated to improving healthcare access and efficiency. With a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University, Holly has significant experience in financial planning, budget analysis, and Six Sigma/Lean training. This, along with her extensive experience in healthcare finance and revenue cycle management, makes her a valuable asset to rural healthcare initiatives. Holly is also a Certified Coding and Billing Specialist, with expertise in claims processing, Medicare and Medicaid compliance, and grant management.
Kayla Combs works with rural facilities and communities across the southern region of the U.S. to connect them with the resources and technical assistance o ered by the RHRC and Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center. In this role, Kayla supports over 25 rural emergency hospitals. Before joining the RHRC, she served as the Flex Program Director at the Kentucky O ce of Rural Health for over ten years and later supported the Flex Program as a Program Specialist at the National Rural Health Resource Center. She holds a Master of Health Administration from the University of Kentucky and has a strong background in grant management, hospital operations, and healthcare improvement initiatives. Originally from rural southeastern Kentucky, Kayla now enjoys life at her new home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Hope Burch, MHS, is a passionate leader and advocate for rural healthcare with over 25 years of public health experience. A lifelong rural resident in Hayesville, NC, Hope understands the barriers to healthcare access and is committed to innovative solutions. With a Master of Health Science degree, she has led efforts in promoting healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and emergency response. Her leadership includes building partnerships, securing funding, and implementing programs to improve rural healthcare services. Hope has held leadership roles at the Kansas and NC Departments of Public Health, Mission Hospital Healthcare Foundation, and Buncombe County Department of Public Health. Dedicated to improving rural healthcare, Hope focuses on sustainable strategies that enhance delivery and drive economic growth in underserved communities.
Kurt is an accomplished data scientist with diverse background in statistics, deep learning, and analysis. He enjoys engaging midsize teams to create an environment that fosters teamwork, results, and drives organizational growth.
Brigitte supports rural hospitals through data analytics, reporting, and modeling. Formerly, she was an employee of a rural hospital, giving her an appreciation of the importance of rural health.
John has over 30 years of diverse healthcare delivery experience, with a proven track record of providing financial, operational and productivity analysis and insight. Prior to joining RHRC, he spent 5 years at a PA Rural Health Model participant hospital.
Jade has eight years of experience in education and e-learning. In her role, she works closely with our various specialists to create valuable learning modules that elevate staff and leadership development, both for the RHRC’s internal team and our external stakeholders.
Stacy joined the team in 2023. She has significant experience living and working rurally. In her role, she provides assistance to rural providers and communities in the form of grant research, writing, and education.
Diana joined the RHRC team in 2019, bringing with her an extensive background in social services. Having been raised in a rural area, she is deeply committed to facilitating access to essential services for rural residents within their communities. Diana supports several teams within the RHRC in her current role as a Project Manager.
Sue has dedicated her entire career to rural healthcare, working within provider practices, including rural health clinics. Recently, she became a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) with the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. Her extensive experience as a Director of Practice Management in hospital systems, coupled with her interactions with hospital leadership, brings valuable perspective to her role within the RHRC as the Program Director for the ARH-TAC grant.
Beth is a rural resident with a diverse clinical background as a registered nurse in hospital, military, and school settings. In her role, she helps hospitals plan and implement value-based initiatives.
Steven brings over 25 years of healthcare executive experience, including CEO roles at rural hospitals, building high performing teams dedicated to improving care through innovation. At Clarion Hospital, he led the integration into the PA Rural Health Model, ensuring future sustainability and innovative care solutions. He also led the system’s integration into the larger Butler Health System (now Independence Health) in western PA. His work in helping to lead the development and implementation of a pioneering tele-stroke network at Penn State Health greatly improved access to specialty care for surrounding rural communities. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives with an MBA from Penn State, Steven’s expertise in strategic planning and change management is helping to drive equitable, sustainable healthcare in our most vulnerable rural areas across the nation.
Michelle joined the team in 2022. She is a life-long rural resident providing her with an understanding of the rural-relevant issues we seek to address.
Gerry joined our team in 2022. He has over 20 years of executive experience with proven success navigating complex business and operational challenges in Healthcare and Public Accounting.
Tracey has been with the team since 2020. Born and raised in rural, she recognizes the importance of access to care and has a passion for ensuring it is maintained. In her role, she helps with fund and resource development, and data analytics.
Tom has over 43 years of healthcare experience, with 24 in executive leadership and 16 in rural settings. In his role, he provides tactical assistance to rural providers in areas such as workforce, strategic planning, and value-based care.
A seasoned healthcare professional with over 16 years of experience dedicated to advocating for patient access to public bene ts and comprehensive wellness. With a focus on integrative and collaborative approaches, she has successfully worked across diverse healthcare settings, including non-pro t mental health agencies, physician o ces, physician-owned hospitals, and large health systems, predominantly in rural communities. Her extensive background equips her with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by patients in accessing care. Autum’s commitment to fostering collaboration between patient needs and clinical standards drives her passion for reducing barriers to healthcare. rough her innovative strategies and holistic perspective, she empowers healthcare teams to deliver e ective and compassionate support, ensuring that every patient receives the care they deserve.
Candice Talkington, MHA, is a seasoned Program Director with nearly 30 years of experience in healthcare program implementation and strategic planning, consistently driving measurable cost and quality improvements. She has led technical assistance program initiatives, including the Next Generation ACO, Medicare Shared Savings Program, and ACO REACH, as well as spearheading programs in population health, pharmacy management, clinical documentation, care management, electronic clinical quality measure development, integrated behavioral health, and practice transformation. Candice’s extensive experience spans diverse healthcare organizations, from large systems to small practices, serving both rural and urban communities. With a deep passion for advancing accessible healthcare, she thrives on collaborating with rural communities to develop practical, sustainable solutions that ensure access to quality care for all.
Josh is a resident of rural Maine with extensive experience managing programs and working with state partners in the Northern Border Region. He is passionate about improving access and quality of care, especially as it relates to substance use disorder.
Rachelle has over 17 years of healthcare experience focused on improving patient access to quality care. She has worked in various settings, including hospice care, the VA/military sector, inpatient acute care, and outpatient practices. Known for her effective community partnerships and impactful care management initiatives, Rachelle is committed to healthcare innovation. As a builder and convener, she engages stakeholders to drive meaningful change. With a passion for rural health, she collaborates with facilities to find sustainable solutions and improve health outcomes. Rachelle brings extensive knowledge and a unique perspective to discussions on patient access, healthcare strategy, and community engagement
Susie has over 17 years of quality, risk management, and patient safety experience. She served as a Chief Quality O cer and a Director of Quality in organizations serving rural communities. She is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and operations of healthcare.
Ed joined the RHRCO in 2022 with over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He is the former President and CEO of a rural P.A. hospital where he was proficient in professional recruiting, operations management, physician management, strategic planning, advocacy, and coaching.
Dan joined the RHRCO in 2022 with over 38 years in healthcare leadership. He is the former Sr. VP of a P.A. Rural Health Model participant hospital. In that role, he helped the hospital navigate the changes from Medicare and Medicaid through the COVID pandemic and maintained its independence for over 37 years.
Bill brings over 20 years of rural health experience, 15 of those in health finance. With his professional background, Bill understands the complexities of rural and can relate to the difficult decisions rural healthcare leaders face on a daily basis.
Angie serves as the Communications & Executive Support Manager, utilizing her strong communication, marketing, and managerial skills. With a strong passion for patient advocacy, she brings a unique perspective from her time living in a rural community. Angie’s background allows her to effectively communicate the needs and challenges of rural healthcare. Her dedication to improving services and support is evident in her work, where she continuously strives to enhance community engagement and outreach.
Janice has been leading the work of the RHRC since its inception. She has a background in health nance and is a highly rated rural health expert with over 20 years of relevant leadership experience. She works closely with rural health executives, state and federal partners, and other community stakeholders to ensure access to quality healthcare in maintained across the rural U.S.
Anna is a former CEO of a Critical Access Hospital and a Board Certifed Nurse Executive with 30 years experience in rural healthcare. She understands the complexities of rural and can relate to healthcare leaders from having been in their shoes. In her role, she provides leadership ensuring consistency and alignment across every program.