17-04-2025
Rural health summit brings medical professionals together to brainstorm solutions
INDIANA, Pa. – Prior to a break Wednesday at the first Western Pennsylvania Regional Rural Health Summit, Primary Health Network CEO Dr. George Garrow addressed the crowd about the elegance of collaboration in the medical field.
"Everyone in this room is creating beautiful music in health care," he said. "Imagine what we could create in working together."
He highlighted the point by having two solo guitarists play individually, then together out of sync and finally harmoniously.
"I think the only way to get out of this quagmire of poor health outcomes is to work creatively and collaboratively," Garrow said.
Networking and building partnerships were the highlights of the event hosted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, organizers said.
"Today's summit will hopefully serve as a launching point to identifying actionable solutions to the health challenges facing our rural communities," said Dr. Miko Rose, founding dean of IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
She added that gatherings such as Wednesday's will help shape curriculum, program offerings and related fields when the medical school is operational. The proposed college is in the multiyear accreditation process and is expected to accept the first class of students in 2027.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said the summit is the first of several events geared toward "catalyzing an ongoing regional approach" to addressing rural health needs in the commonwealth.
She told the crowd strong health care systems are the foundation of any community and those providers are essential to economic growth and stability in rural communities.
That and the dire situation regarding health care in rural regions is why Gov. Josh Shapiro has earmarked tens of millions of dollars of funding in his proposed budget to lift up those institutions, Arkoosh said.
According to the United Health Foundation, Pennsylvania has a patient to primary care physician ratio of 1,367 to 1.
In rural areas, such as Cambria and Indiana counties, there's a shortage of one primary care physician for every 522 residents, according to state information.
Steve Wolfe, IRMC president and CEO, said it is as tough as it's ever been for hospitals, and that a lot of facilities "walk a high wire act" to get through each day.
He also noted many rural hospitals have limited options for private payer reimbursements and receive more than 50% of annual revenue through medical assistance avenues.
To help address these issues, IUP pursued a proposed college of osteopathic medicine, specifically because doctors of osteopathic medicine more often practice in rural areas than doctors of medicine and to open up the osteopathic training field in the state.
"We have our challenges," IUP President Michael Driscoll said. "Others have it worse, and we need to help all of them."
He added that the university is "all in on the problem and finding a solution."
The summit also served as an opportunity for Driscoll to share news that the university had received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor for the proposed college of medicine.
The IUP president said the donation was from a first-generation university graduate and native of Indiana County.
That funding pushed the total the university has received in private and governmental dollars to above $32 million for the proposed college.
"I'm thankful for this latest gift, and it's because of you and other donors that we're going to do this," Driscoll said.
Following introductions and comments from IUP leaders and guests, visitors took part in a variety of workshops.
Those ranged from Expanding Access to Women's Health and Maternity Care, and Strengthening Rural Health Care Partnerships to The Business of Health Care and Rural Economic Development, Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population and Strengthening Regional Mental and Behavioral Health Response.
Each group was then asked to present key takeaways and proposed next steps for addressing the material discussed within.
Additionally, a panel consisting of Driscoll; Wolfe; state Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana; state Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana; and Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian discussed the state of rural health in Pennsylvania.
Rose moderated the conversation.
Kelly Meyer, an IRMC resident physician, said she was proud to see IUP host the gathering and the university's pursuit of a medical school.
"I think we need all of us together, physicians, non-physicians, administrators, state people ... to bring more people back to rural PA," she said.
Meyer is in her second year of residency at IRMC and lives in Indiana.
She said her goal in attending Wednesday's event was to network with other professionals and get more information about access for foreign medical students to complete rotations in Pennsylvania.
Meyer attended St. George's University in the West Indies for her medical degree and, despite being a Pennsylvania resident, she was required to do her rotations in New Jersey and New York.
In addition to Arkoosh, summit guests heard from Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, who spoke about health trends in Armstrong, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson counties; IUP Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans; Center for Rural Pennsylvania Assistant Director Dr. Laura Dimino; and Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Director Lisa Davis.
Arkoosh said the state has three more rural health summits scheduled at this time, but the group wanted to start in Indiana County because officials have viewed a lot of success in the area.
"We see a region that already collaborates really well and we want to learn," she said.
