The San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, AZ

The Arizona Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health will present the 45th Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference in collaboration with the Arizona Rural Health Association July 26-27 in Flagstaff, Ariz. 

The conference will take place at the High Country Conference Center, 201 W. Butler Ave.,
Flagstaff, Arizona.

Under the theme, “Health in Context: Addressing Rural Strengths and Challenges,” some of the most pressing issues facing rural Arizona today will be discussed, including non-opioid approaches to treating acute and chronic pain, public health interventions to address Arizona’s opioid crisis, the future of the Affordable Care Act, and increasing access to health care in rural and underserved communities in Arizona. 

“This is a crucial and opportune time to advance rural health policy in our state and for the nation as we approach the midterm elections this fall,” said Daniel Derksen, MD, professor of public health policy and director of the Arizona Center for Rural Health. “Remarkable progress was made during Arizona’s legislative session this year, as the legislature addressed important rural health issues, including an impressive start to improving K-12 education – a key social determinant of health. 

One of the nation's longest running rural health conferences, the Arizona Rural Health Conference attracts a statewide audience of health-care providers, academic, county and community health professionals, administrators, policy makers, and state and local leaders.

On Saturday, July 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the High Country Conference Center, the Arizona Center for Rural Health will offer Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) training to use buprenorphine for opioid use disorder to certify interested licensed health providers. This training involves a combination of medications that targets the brain, and psychosocial interventions such as counseling and skills development, aimed at improving treatment outcomes. This training requires separate registration.

For information about the conference, please contact Rebecca Ruiz at raruiz@email.arizona.edu and 520-626-2243. To register visit the website: https://crh.arizona.edu/calendar/RHC-2018

About the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health

The Arizona Center for Rural Health, in the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, has been serving Arizona since 1981 through its core mission to improve the health and wellness of rural and underserved populations. The Center is home to many programs, including the State Office of Rural Health, Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, Western Region Public Health Training Center, Navigator Consortium, Students Helping Arizona Register Everyone, the Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Initiative, and the ADHS Arizona First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Interagency Services Agreement. For more information: crh.arizona.edu