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Faith in Rural Health Summit Paves Way for New Partnerships and Solutions for Rural Health Care

by Paul Byrd, M.Div., BCC, Faith in Rural Health Program Director


On October 4, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center held the Faith in Rural Health Summit at Mercer University, bringing together doctors, faith leaders, and health care professionals from across rural Georgia who are committed to enhancing holistic health in their communities.

“This event is not a conference. We are gathered today for a summit,” said FIRH Program Director Paul Byrd in his opening remarks. “We have come together with the hope that, as you hear the presentations, you’ll consider how you can work together to improve health in your context.”

Participants, many from different disciplines, shared their calling or commitment to their profession, quickly building a sense of camaraderie and collaboration. In the words of one participant, “I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m so glad I came.”

The Faith in Rural Health Program is a collaboration between Mercer University School of Medicine and McAfee School of Theology and is led and funded by the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center. It was established with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary partnerships. Medical and theology students teamed up to link faith and health leaders in rural areas. As a result of these connections, initiatives that bridge faith and health care to better support communities were created.

The summit emphasized the role of spiritual care in health care. Bernard Scoggins, MD, of Albany Primary Health Care, shared how spiritual care providers supported Albany’s community during the COVID-19 crisis. Pastor James Kilgore, of Eatonton, recounted how — after learning many of his congregants were dealing with diabetes — he knew the church had to be involved in addressing the congregation’s physical health as well as spiritual health. The impact of diabetes and related health issues compelled his congregation to work with other churches and health care professionals to address these challenges.

Drawing from examples shared by health care professionals and faith leaders who recognized the importance of collaboration and approached it creatively, the summit helped participants identify the strengths that they could leverage by collaborating.  The summit’s greatest success was the opportunity for attendees to connect and explore potential partnerships. Attendees engaged in conversations about their calling, shared their county’s challenges and strategized about creating collaborations. The energy and enthusiasm in these sessions was evident, as participants realized the potential for positive change that could be achieved through partnerships between health care professionals and faith leaders.

Caroline Anglim, PhD, assistant professor of bioethics and professionalism at the School of Medicine, noted the summit felt different from typical conferences. She said, “At some point in the morning, I could tell that this wasn’t the average conference. Participants were enjoying being together and were energized at the possibilities in the room.”

Several participants, like Christine Baughman, RN, of Promise Pediatrics in Ringgold, were eager to integrate spiritual care into health care in their counties. “After we left the event, my husband, who is a pediatrician in our county, and I talked continually about how it would change the outcome of many of our patients if we had help available for their spirit as well as their health. We are so interested in continuing this conversation and exploring the possibilities of how we can address these needs.”

Other attendees, like Pastor Katherine Ware, of Eatonton, agreed. Ware said, “Being present for the presentations will enhance my efforts to serve as a chaplain at Putnam General Hospital.”

Pastor Craig Williamson was inspired by meeting local colleagues with shared goals. “I experienced the affirmation of my attempts to join together ministry and medical needs,” he said. “I also met, and briefly got to know, a local physician of Putnam County, with whom I’ve attended basketball games but never officially recognized as a colleague. The event created additional possibilities for ministry and medical collaboration in Putnam.”

In the words of Jean Sumner, MD, FACP, dean of the School of Medicine, “Historically, medicine and religion were closely intertwined. Re-establishing this alliance is crucial for a patient-centered, healthy community.”

The Faith in Rural Health Summit laid the foundation for new partnerships, advancing a more compassionate and holistic approach to rural health care in Georgia.

For more information on the Faith in Rural Health Program, contact Paul Byrd, director, at byrd_pd@mercer.edu