Students and faculty shared how medical education and community partnerships are closing access gaps at the Rural Health Association of Utah's annual conference.
The University of Utah demonstrated its deep commitment to rural health at the Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) Annual Conference, held November 12–13, 2025, in St. George, Utah, at the Dixie Convention Center. This year’s event brought together healthcare professionals, educators, and advocates to address critical challenges facing rural communities across Utah. This year’s conference theme, The Rural Advantage: Collaboration, Community and Innovation, highlights the importance of partnerships and community driven solutions in strengthening rural healthcare.
To kick things off, the Southern Utah Regional Medical Campus (SURMC) hosted an open house the morning of the conference, where attendees toured newly acquired space at Utah Tech University’s U Plaza and enjoyed light refreshments. The open house drew strong participation from key local and state leaders from Utah Tech University, Intermountain Health, Noorda College of Medicine, the Association of Utah Community Health Centers, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The event highlighted collaborative efforts with the Southern Utah AHEC as well as the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program and the University of Utah Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, both of which maintain extension campuses at Utah Tech University. Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Interim Senior Associate Dean of SURMC, commented on the positive energy. “It is so exciting and inspiring to hear from so many community partners who see such promise in SURMC’s mission and approach to addressing Utah’s rural physician workforce challenges.”
University of Utah faculty, staff, and students led impactful sessions throughout the two-day event. Melanie Beagley, public policy analyst at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, co-presented on maternity care shortages in Utah. Catherine Soehner, Associate Dean and Executive Director of the Eccles Health Sciences Library, collaborated on a breakout session seeking to expand health professional access to cutting-edge research in rural health clinics and systems. Courtney Lawrence, community outreach coordinator, and Dr. Giavonni Lewis, medical director for University of Utah Health’s Burn Center, provided hands-on training on burn care assessment and management. The University of Utah also contributed multiple poster presentations showcasing innovative approaches to improving rural health outcomes and strengthening the healthcare workforce.
From the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, Chaz Whitbeck, site director for the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program, St. George campus, was honored with RHAU’s rural health educator of the year award. Dr. Hofmann served on a panel providing perspective on the federal government’s $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. Tribal, Rural, and Urban Underserved Medical Education (TRUE) Program’s co-directors Drs. David Sandweiss and Sarah Norton, alongside MS3 student Rachel Pernick, highlighted successes with the rural longitudinal integrated clerkship. Rachel described her first experience at RHAU with enthusiasm. “I SO enjoyed attending this year's RHAU conference in St. George. It was humbling to learn from the huge array of professionals who work to support rural health across the state. From public health directors to hospital administrators to elected government officials, it turns out that rural clinicians are only one piece of the puzzle.”
The University’s strong presence at RHAU 2025 underscores its commitment to addressing rural health challenges through education, research, and workforce development. Looking ahead, the SURMC seeks to strengthen partnerships, expand interprofessional education, and increase outreach to students interested in serving rural communities. By fostering collaboration and creating pathways into healthcare careers, University of Utah is helping to ensure that every Utah community—no matter how remote—has access to high-quality care.