The first week of May, Central Minnesota AHEC Regional Specialist Lori Larson attended the National Rural Health Association's Annual Conference in Austin, Texas.

"As one of the new kids on the block (starting in my position the end of September 2010), this was my first NRHA conference," Lori shared. "I found that the conference allowed me to see others with an interest in rural health care in action, and it gave me a tremendous opportunity to network with extremely knowledgeable professionals.

I viewed some of the best practices for workforce development as well as delivery of education and am able to bring this back not only to Central Minnesota's AHEC, but the entire Minnesota AHEC Network. I found tremendous value in attending the conference, and I look forward to it again next year."

Larson was also able to connect with Therese Zink, MD, MPH, Associate Director of the Rural Physician Associate Program at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Zink was at the conference as an advocate and educator in rural health and she also was sharing stories from The Country Doctor Revisited, which she edited.