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 offered 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 Office 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.

Kayla Combs

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 offered by the RHRC and Rural […]

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 offered by the RHRC and Rural […]

Ken Harman RHRC Regional Liaison
Ken Harman
Regional Liaison

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.

Kayla Combs

tom harlow
Tom Harlow
Program Director

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.

janice walters
Janice Walters
Executive Director

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.