KCRH Membership
Kansas Center for Rural Health (KCRH) Membership Structure
The Kansas Center for Rural Health (KCRH) is transitioning the existing Rural Health Council into a more traditional membership-based model. Inspired by models used in academic and medical centers (e.g., Cancer Centers), this new structure is designed to:
- Enhance engagement and two-way communication
- Increase clarity around who is involved with KCRH
- Provide both internal and external partners with a greater sense of connection and support from the Center
The membership model is intentionally inclusive, welcoming individuals and groups with a vested interest in rural health. Members will have opportunities to collaborate, access mentorship, apply for pilot funding (as applicable), and receive discounted registration for KCRH events. Those with an external membership will bring additional voices to the table and in turn will receive support from the center and its members for their work. However, this type of membership comes with few mandatory activities.
Eligibility:
- Must be a KU Medical Center employee (faculty, staff, fellow, postdoc, or resident)
- Demonstrated interest in rural health, healthcare, and/or rural research in Kansas
- Completion of the KCRH Member Survey
- Survey includes:
- Current work activities related to rural Kansas (e.g., research, outreach, projects)
- Committee(s) of interest
- CV submission
- Survey includes:
Expectations:
- Join and actively participate in at least one KCRH committee
- Attend committee meetings regularly
- Share relevant activities for inclusion in the KCRH newsletter
- Participate in center programming and initiatives as appropriate
- Submit a brief annual update survey on activities aligned with KCRH’s mission
Benefits:
- Eligibility for pilot funding and inclusion in future KCRH proposals
- Access to mentorship and collaboration opportunities
- Potential discounted registration for KCRH-supported events
Eligibility:
- Stated interest in health, healthcare, and/or rural research in rural Kansas
- Completion of the KCRH Affiliate Member Survey:
- Survey includes:
- Professional background
- Location
- Rural health interests and experiences
- Survey includes:
Expectations:
- Willingness to engage with KCRH’s mission as appropriate
- Example: A rural hospital CEO may reach out about workforce pipeline initiatives or research development opportunities
- Open to providing input and feedback on Center initiatives, ensuring relevance and effectiveness for rural communities
- Openness to sharing their ideas and initiatives, as appropriate, with the KCRH in pursuit of the goal of improving the health of all Kansans
- Encouraged to:
- Attend KCRH events (e.g., speaker series, symposiums)
- Participate in committees, as feasible
- Complete an annual survey to share regional updates and provide feedback
Benefits:
- Connection to a broader rural health network
- Recognition as a KCRH Affiliate
- Priority registration and potential discounts for KCRH-supported events (e.g., the Maternal Health Symposium, Women’s Health Symposium, etc.)
- Opportunity to contribute rural insights that guide KCRH initiatives
Must be a KU Medical Center or KU student (Postdocs, Fellows and Residents should apply for internal membership).
Eligibility:
- Must be a KU Medical Center or KU student
- Postdocs
- Fellows
- and Residents should apply for internal membership
- Demonstrated interest in rural health, healthcare, and/or rural research in Kansas
- Student membership is meant to facilitate genuine participation within the center and not simply CV bolstering. As such, student attendance at committee meetings is tracked to ensure student members remain in good standing.
- Completion of the KCRH Student Member Survey
- Survey includes:
- Short description of how you see your involvement with the center expanding your education at KU Medical Center
- Current work activities related to rural Kansas (e.g., research, outreach, projects)
- Committee(s) of interest
- CV submission
- Survey includes:
Expectations:
- Join and actively participate in at least one KCRH committee
- Attend committee meetings regularly
- Share relevant activities for inclusion in the KCRH newsletter
- Participate in center programming and initiatives as appropriate
- Submit a brief annual update survey on activities aligned with KCRH’s mission
Benefits:
- Access to mentorship and collaboration opportunities
- Expanding person network with rural-focused faculty and staff across KU Medical Center
- Potentially discounted registration for KCRH-sponsored events (KU Medical Center students only)