The Behavioral and Mental Health Committee is committed to improving rural mental health outcomes by bridging university-led research with the lived experiences and needs of rural communities. Through ongoing dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative partnerships, the committee provides a space to share research updates, engage stakeholders, build capacity through training and resources, and support joint projects that address rural mental health priorities.

Chair/Co-Chairs

Matt Byerly, M.D.
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Dean, Research, KUMC-Wichita
Co-Director, Program in Digital Mental Health, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Shawna Wright, Ph.D.
Director KU Center for Telemedicine & Telehealth

The Workforce/Pathways Committee champions initiatives that build and sustain a strong health care workforce in rural Kansas. We guide and inspire students—beginning in high school and continuing through higher education—by connecting them with career exploration, mentorship, training, and pathway opportunities in health care. Our work fosters partnerships between schools, employers, and communities to ensure that Kansas has the skilled professionals needed to meet the evolving health needs of its rural populations.

Chair/Co-Chairs

Tina Goosz-Garetson
Health Career Promotion Program Manager

The Data and Informatics Committee guides the strategic collection, management, and use of data to advance the mission of the Kansas Center for Rural Health. Meeting quarterly, the committee ensures data assets are accurate, secure, and interoperable, while supporting research, clinical care, education, community engagement, and policy advocacy for rural populations.

Its work focuses on:

• Data Governance & Quality: Uphold ethical, secure, and compliant practices while maintaining accuracy and consistency.
• Integration & Interoperability: Connect diverse data sources and fostering seamless exchange with rural partners.
• Innovation & Analytics: Advance tools such as predictive modeling, AI/ML, and dashboards to address rural health disparities.
• Research & Evaluation: Strengthen infrastructure to support impactful studies and secure collaboration.
• Capacity Building: Offer training and resources in data literacy and informatics for faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Community Engagement: Ensure rural stakeholders help shape priorities and have access to data insights that benefit their communities.

• Strategic Alignment: Link all data initiatives with the Center’s mission, KU Medical Center priorities, and rural health policy goals.

Chair/Co-Chairs

Dinesh Pal Mudaranthakam, Ph.D., MBA, MS
Assistant Professor, Biostatistics & Data Science

Hayrettin Okut, Ph.D.
Professor, Population Health

Rosey Zackula, MS
Statistician

The Maternal, Child and Family Health Committee aims to improve maternal, child, and family health outcomes in rural Kansas. Our vision is to sustain, support, and promote access and equity for maternal, child, and family health care across the state. To achieve this, the committee identified several key strategies:

• Build collaborations and engage with external and internal partners across the state
• Create opportunities for active participation in policy development and advocacy
• Align expertise and evidence-based practices with community needs
• Develop education and training requirements that reflect the committee’s focus areas
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities that will sustain, support, and expand access to health care and prevention services

Established activities supporting this work include planning and hosting the annual Kansas Rural Maternal Health Symposium, which provides education, networking, and collaborative opportunities to strengthen maternal, child, and family health across rural communities in Kansas.

Chair/Co-Chairs

Lisette T. Jacobson, Ph.D., MPA, M.A.
Associate Professor, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Population Health
Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Rural Research Committee aims to promote rural research and connect researchers across all KUMC campuses for collaborative research efforts. The Committee will guide the development of resources that can make rural research easier for both the researchers and the communities involved. The Rural Research Committee is currently responsible for:

• Support the development of the Center’s Research Brief series highlighting rural research projects and investigators.
• Develop rural research “do’s and don’ts,” “how-to guides,” and FAQs for KUMC researchers.
• Serve as a resource for ad hoc rural research mentorship, matchmaking between researchers and rural partners and for proposal review and feedback both during and between meetings as requested.

The committee typically meets every other month on the third Monday of the month from 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. (and more often as needed).

Chair/Co-Chairs

Allen A. Greiner, MD, MPH
Professor, Family Medicine and Community Health
Vice Chair, Family Medicine and Community Health

Hope Krebill, MSW, BSN, RN
Assistant Director, Outreach, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Executive Director, Masonic Cancer Alliance
Co-Leader, Patient and Community Engagement Core, Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine COBRE

Ellie Brent, MPH
KPEPPR Network Director