Leaders gather in Kearney to tackle rural health challenges in Nebraska

KEARNEY, Neb. ( NCN ) - Health leaders, educators and community members alike came together Monday in Kearney for the Rural Engagement and Wellness Summit, a collaborative effort to address the unique challenges of rural health care in Nebraska.

Participants helped shape the discussions by sharing ideas and learning from one another.

“One major focus is agricultural health and safety, a vital issue in a state where one in four jobs is tied to farming,” said Athena Ramos, an associate professor at the UNMC College of Public Health. “We need to make sure that farmers and farm workers have access to health care, education, and resources because health is the foundation for managing all of the other challenges in agriculture.”

Charlie Stoltenow, Dean and Director of Extension for Nebraska