Dr. Randall L. Longenecker ’75 was interviewed by Fox News about efforts to make health care more accessible to Americans living in rural communities. He is assistant dean for rural and underserved programs at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
More than 6, 454 areas designated as “health deserts” lack primary care physicians, and 13,991 practitioners are needed to help the 77 million Americans living in those areas, according to Fox News sources.
View the interview on Fox News.
“A lot of myths persist around rural practice,” Longenecker told Fox News host Dana Perino on “The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino.” “And my job is to debunk those.”
Increasing the number of physicians specifically trained for their residency in a rural community could help raise the numbers, he said.
Longenecker oversees the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathways Program and the patient-centered medical care curriculum for medical students, as well as rural training tracks in residency programs.
EMU ties still strong
After graduating from EMU, Longenecker earned his MD from the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He has stayed connected to his alma mater, joining other alumni in the medical professions as consultants for EMU’s MS in biomedicine program. He also recently mentored a biomedicine graduate student through thesis research on the topic of rural medicine.
At one time, Longenecker worked at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine with five fellow EMU alumni: Roger Kauffman ’73, Winfred Stoltzfus ’80, Rodney Graber ’87, Charles Kratz ’88 and Ryan Kauffman ’99.
‘Outstanding educator’ with rural care focus
In 2014, Longenecker was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award from The National Rural Health Association for his work as a longtime rural physician, his efforts in bringing together students from all of Ohio’s medical schools for rural health retreats, and his success in connecting students with opportunities for networking, leadership and advocacy through trips to the nation’s capital.
Through a 2011 grant from the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Longenecker is also developing the non-profit Rural Training Track Collaborative, a network of medical education programs created to sustain health professions education in rural places. The collaborative aims to advance rural training tracks nationwide.
He practiced as a comprehensive family physician, including maternity care, in western Ohio from 1982 to 2012 and was program director of The Ohio State University Rural Program family medicine residency/rural training track from 1997-2011.
Congratulations, Dr. Longenecker! We are most grateful for your leadership and accomplishments in addressing the acute problem of rural healthcare in the U.S.
Conratulations, Randy, and greetings to your dear wife. Fond memories of EMU classes!
Congratulations, Randall Longenecker on your work in addressing medical needs in itrural America! Sandra(Derstine )ERB graduate of EMC and late wife of David ERB
Randy,
I have many, many fond memories of growing up with you in rural Pa! Thank you for for your outstanding work as a leading Physician in an important are of medical service. I only wish I had kept as much hair as you have.
Yours,
Ron Baer
Congratulations, Randy. Thank you for your significant service to “forgotten” peoples.
Congratulations, Randy (cousin!), on being recognized for the expert that you are, and for the many years of serving rural communities in various ways. You have been an instrument of God’s grace for needy rural residents. Your involvement will help to solve some of the complicated issues of health care where it is lacking. Galen and I send you our best wishes.
Congratulations, Randy! Great honor to be recognized and to have a National venue to promote rural health care.
I am a Native Ohioan, now living in “America’s County,” Somerset Cty., PA. Sounds as if all your patients care very much for you. Congratulations on a long, dedicated career of helping people.