Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center Mercer University School of Medicine

03/31/2026

March was full of excitement and as we close out the month, we congratulate our Maternal Health Observership Program graduates and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Rural Pediatric Scholars from Mercer University School of Medicine on their Match Day!

03/31/2026

Read the latest issue of For Rural:
https://garuralhealth.link/MAR2026

03/31/2026

It’s National Doctors' Day! We celebrate and honor Georgia’s rural physicians and their commitment to live in and serve rural communities across our state. Their dedication and tireless efforts to care for patients, oftentimes as the only health care provider in their community, are unmatched. We appreciate you!

03/30/2026

03/25/2026

Last week, GRHIC’s Rural Pediatric Telehealth team conducted demonstrations of new telehealth carts at Dr. Bills Kids in Cochran and Children's Healthcare Center,LLC in Sandersville,GA. They provided education on proper use of the equipment, along with additional resources to support staff and strengthen pediatric care in their communities. The carts will help patients in these rural counties connect with specialists at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta without additional travel.

03/24/2026

Earlier this month, child and adolescent psychiatrist from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, William Powers, MD, led a free training session on anxiety and depression.

Watch: garuralhealth.link/PAWS

03/24/2026

Rural Pediatric Continuing Education Conference: April 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Earn credits. Free event. 🔗 Register today: garuralhealth.link/PedsCME

Topics include:
- Pediatric Dermatology in Rural Georgia
- Pediatric ADHD Made Practical: Evidence-Based Diagnosis, Medication Management and Behavioral Tools
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Enhancing Conversations with Families Expressing Vaccine Hesitancy
- Seeing the Signs Sooner: Early Recognition and Interdisciplinary Care for Cerebral Palsy (0–5 Years)

03/23/2026

Last week, rural hospital emergency departments participating in KidsABC had another day of pediatric emergency care training hosted by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital. The training provided additional resources and education for staff to help strengthen emergency pediatric care in their communities and included a clinical simulation session.

Clinch Memorial Hospital | Liberty Regional Medical Center | Stephens County Hospital

03/20/2026

We congratulate Mercer University School of Medicine Dean Jean Sumner, MD, MACP, on being recognized as a Rural Health Care Champion of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle!

03/18/2026

Last week, Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance welcomed more than 200 attendees to its annual Georgia Farm Stress Summit, bringing together farmers, agricultural leaders and community partners to address the challenges facing rural and agricultural communities across the state.

The event highlighted the mental health, safety and well-being of farm families and addressed the pressures affecting agricultural communities. It included panel discussions on mental health in rural Georgia and the challenges farmers face, along with breakout sessions and interactive activities that encouraged collaboration and resource sharing.

Special thanks to alliance partners: Mercer University School of Medicine, Fort Valley State University Extension, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Farm Bureau, UGA Extension and Georgia Department of Agriculture

03/17/2026

Earlier this month, GRHIC partnered with State Representative Mack Jackson to host a health fair in Sandersville. Mercer University School of Medicine students led a Teddy Bear Clinic, provided blood pressure screenings and organized games for children and families. The event offered community members a day of health education, screenings and resources.

03/16/2026

Earlier this month, GRHIC hosted the Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative Meeting for participating rural KidsABC hospitals. The two-day event featured training sessions on recognizing childhood neglect versus poverty, pediatric disaster preparedness, developing effective emergency department action plans and strategies to improve the pediatric experience in the ER. Participants also engaged in collaborative tabletop discussions focused on sharing pediatric resources across rural emergency departments.

We thank the participating hospitals for their commitment to strengthening pediatric care in their communities.