NRHA continues to engage rural communities to represent All of Us
Kicking off our May campaign, the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) will release two episodes for their This is Rural podcast series focused on the All of Us Research Program. The episodes feature interviews by CSRHA President Scott Hertzberg with All of Us Research Program partners Christine Perez of the National Hispanic Council on Aging and Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Borowsky, All of Us principal investigator for the University of California Davis. In these conversations, Hertzberg digs deep with the guests on their commitment to and insights on the program, their best practices in engaging diverse communities in health research, and their organizations’ plans to expand their All of Us work into more rural areas of the state. Hertzberg’s interview with Perez can be found on CSRHA’s website. Borowsky’s interview will be published May 18.
In print media, NRHA has collaborated with Stanford PRIDEnet to create an All of Us asset focusing on the intersection of LGBTQ+ identifying populations in rural areas. It is important to NRHA that we recognize and understand the unique experiences of intersectional populations that call rural America home. The asset highlights health disparities LGBTQ+ populations experience in rural areas and how the All of Us Research Program is helping change that. NRHA will introduce the asset at the All of Us exhibit during our 46th Annual Rural Health Conference May 15-19 in San Diego, for which you can still register virtually.
NRHA is excited to continue highlighting the many intersectional identities of rural residents. We are currently collaborating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to produce an All of Us asset focusing on veterans living in rural America. On May 15, NRHA members will have the opportunity to engage in person with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ All of Us Team at NRHA’s Health Equity Conference during their poster presentation.
NRHA’s Health Equity Conference and Annual Rural Health Conference will have an unprecedented All of Us presence. For the first time, All of Us enrollment partners with University of California San Diego will be on site May 16-17 h at the All of Us exhibit table to begin the enrollment process with interested attendees. Our enrollment partners will be able to consult with conference attendees on any questions or concerns they have about enrollment, as well as collect consent forms and general survey data on their tablets.
Like last year’s Annual Conference, in collaboration with Texas AHEC East Waco Region, NRHA will be cohosting an All of Us exhibit to provide information and answer general questions about the program. NRHA is excited to work with great partners to bring the All of Us Research Program to rural America.
NRHA invites you to learn more about the All of Us Research Program and join us in representing the rich diversity that exists within rural communities. We want to extend our deepest thanks to the amazing partners who have brought critical expertise in furthering this crucial work.
All of Us recently released nearly a quarter million whole genome sequences for broad research use – a historic milestone made possible by research participants from across the country. In combination with information on participants’ lifestyles and environments, this data will enable researchers to address unanswered questions about health and disease, advancing discoveries that may pave the way for more tailored health care approaches. The All of Us dataset is the world’s largest and most diverse of its kind. About 75 percent of All of Us participants represent communities that have been historically underrepresented in medical research, and about 45 percent of All of Us participants identify with a racial or ethnic minority group.
To learn more about the All of Us Research Program, visit the All of Us website or email AllofUs@RuralHealth.US to find out how you can get involved.