The CDC Lacks a Rural Focus. Researchers Hope a Newly Funded Office Will Help. Christina Saint Louis Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023 Updated Apr 19, 2023 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published multiple reports analyzing health disparities between rural and urban populations.kAm%92E 677@CE A=62D65 C6D62C496CD 2?5 25G@42E6D 7@C :>AC@G:?8 CFC2= 962=E9 3642FD6 E96 5@K6? @C D@ 6I2>:?2E:@?D @7 CFC2= 962=E9 52E2 AC@G:565 :>A@CE2?E 56E2:=D 23@FE E96 ce >:==:@? p>6C:42?D H9@ =:G6 2H2J 7C@> E96 ?2E:@?’D A@AF=2E:@? 46?E6CD] xE 3682? E@ 7:== 2 82A :? E96 :?7@C>2E:@? FD65 3J E9@D6 H9@ DEF5J 2?5 255C6DD E96 :DDF6D E92E 27764E A6@A=6 :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^AmkAmqFE E9@D6 C6A@CED[ E96 |@C3:5:EJ 2?5 |@CE2=:EJ (66<=J #6A@CE CFC2= 962=E9 D6C:6D[ 3682? 2?5 6?565 :? a_`f] p?5 E9@F89 E96 rsr 92D 255C6DD65 CFC2= 962=E9 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^>>HC^:?56Ia_ab]9E>=Qm@E96C H66<=J C6A@CEDk^2m 2?5 52E2 3C:67D[ E96 286?4J 92D?’E 6I2>:?65 :E :? DF49 56AE9 D:?46]k^Am People are also reading… Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County Investigation continues into fatal wreck that killed juvenile on Sunday Marion, McDowell leaders seek public’s input on future of Drexel Heritage site Firefighters battle blaze off Armstrong Creek Road in northern McDowell County Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained NC high school senior accepted to 90+ colleges, received $5.3 million in scholarship offers Tanker truck crashed on I-40 at McDowell, Burke line; milk spills into creek Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts McDowell County NC East Marion, Clinchfield, Stumptown homecoming to celebrate community kAm%92E’D @?6 C62D@? CFC2= 962=E9 25G@42E6D DF446DD7F==J AFD965 7@C E96 rsr E@ 6IE6?5 :ED CFC2= 962=E9 7@4FD 3J 4C62E:?8 2? ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 2E E96 286?4J] %96 @77:46 :D @A6C2E:@?2= 2D @7 |2C49 a_ab[ 2?5 25G@42E6D 9@A6 E96 286?4J H:== 4@>>:E E@ CFC2= 962=E9 C6D62C49 2?5 AC@G:56 2?2=JD6D E92E =625 E@ 8@@5 AF3=:4 962=E9 A@=:4:6D 7@C CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^AmkAm“(92E H6’C6 D66:?8 :D CFC2= 4@?E:?F2==J 86EE:?8 =67E 369:?5[” D2:5 p=2? |@C82?[ rt~ @7 E96 }2E:@?2= #FC2= w62=E9 pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]CFC2=962=E9]FD^86E>65:2^e2`2hg7g\3dce\ca5g\2323\6h4haegf6336^}#wp\u*\a_aa\pAAC@AC:2E:@?D\#6BF6DE\Wrsr\~77:46\@7\#FC2=\w62=E9X\W`X]2DAIQmFC865 r@?8C6DDk^2m E@ 7F?5 E96 @77:46] “%96J’C6 4@>>F?:E:6D 2E C:D<[ 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E >2J ?@E 36 6>A=@J:?8 AF3=:4 962=E9 D276EJ >62DFC6D[ 2?5 H6 2C6 7=J:?8 3=:?5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“(92E’D ?66565 :D 2? @?8@:?8 =@@< 2E CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ E96:C A@AF=2E:@?D[ E@ 36EE6C 5:C64E 3@E9 DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 677@CED E@ 255C6DD 962=E9 5:DA2C:E:6D[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 @>?:3FD 2AAC@AC:2E:@?D 3:== D:8?65 3J !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? :? s646>36C a_aa 82G6 E96 rsr Sd >:==:@? 7@C E96 a_ab 7:D42= J62C E@ 4C62E6 E96 ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 :?D:56 E96 286?4J[ H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4CDC6A@CED]4@?8C6DD]8@G^AC@5F4E^A57^#^#cfa_fRiOiE6IElrsrVDTa_6?24E65Ta_u*a_abTa_W!]{][4@C6Ta_AF3=:4Ta_962=E9Ta_AC@8C2>Ta_=6G6=]Qm92D 2 Sh]b 3:==:@? 3F586Ek^2m E9:D J62C] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2AAC@AC:2E:@?D]D6?2E6]8@G^:>@^>65:2^5@4^s:G:D:@?Ta_wTa_\Ta_{ww$Ta_$E2E6>6?ETa_u*ab]A57Qmr@?8C6DD 5:C64E65 E96 rsrk^2m E@ D92CA6? :ED 7@4FD @? AF3=:4 962=E9 :? CFC2= 2C62D H:E9 E96 ?6H @77:46[ 27E6C 4@G:5\`h 925 2? @FED:K6 :>A24E @? CFC2= p>6C:42]k^Am kAm%9@F89 E96 rsr :D 2 52E2\5C:G6? AF3=:4 962=E9 286?4J[ :E’D F?=:<6=J E96 ?6H @77:46 H:== D@=G6 AC66I:DE:?8 CFC2= 52E2 492==6?86D] qFE rsr @77:4:2=D 92G6 D2:5 :?\56AE9 CFC2= 962=E9 :?:E:2E:G6D E92E C6BF:C6 4@==23@C2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 rsr — =:<6 E96 |@C3:5:EJ 2?5 |@CE2=:EJ (66<=J #6A@CE CFC2= 962=E9 D6C:6D — 4@F=5 364@>6 >@C6 4@>>@? AC24E:46 2E E96 286?4J]k^AmkAm“x?DE625 @7 4@>A2C:?8 CFC2= 2?5 ?@?\CFC2=[ :E H2D =@@<:?8 H:E9:? CFC2=[” D2:5 s:2?6 w2==[ 24E:?8 5:C64E@C @7 E96 @77:46[ 23@FE E96 a_`f C6A@CED] “%92E ||(# D@CE @7 =2:5 @FE D@>6 E9:?8D E92E H6 42? 36 E9:?<:?8 23@FE 5@:?8 >@C6 @7 D@ E92E H:E9:? CFC2= G2C:2E:@?[ ,E96C6’D. 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H C246 2?5 6E9?:4:EJ A=2J @FE :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 6E9?:4 5:DA2C:E:6D[ E96 D6C:6D 6I2>:?65 :==:4:E 5CF8 FD6[ 42FD6D @7 562E9[ 2?5 DF:4:56 EC6?5D[ 2>@?8 @E96C E9:?8D] %9@D6 E@A:4D 2C6 2=C625J A2CE @7 H92E E96 rsr EC24<D[ 3FE EJA:42==J E96 286?4J 4@>A2C6D CFC2= 52E2 7@C E9@D6 E@A:4D H:E9 FC32? 52E2 C2E96C E92? 4C62E:?8 2 DE2?5\2=@?6 2?2=JD:D]k^Am kAmw2== D2:5 92G:?8 2? ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 H:== 2=D@ 96=A E96 rsr 4@?E:?F6 4@==23@C2E:?8 H:E9 E96 u656C2= ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 !@=:4J[ A2CE @7 E96 w62=E9 #6D@FC46D 2?5 $6CG:46D p5>:?:DEC2E:@?] %92E @77:46 92D 6I:DE65 D:?46 `hgf 2?5 92D 366? E96 AC:>2CJ 7656C2= @77:46 565:42E65 E@ CFC2= 962=E9 42C6] qFE :ED 7@4FD :D @? :?4C62D:?8 2446DD E@ 962=E9 42C6 C2E96C E92? >@?:E@C:?8 AF3=:4 962=E9]k^Am kAmpE E96 rsr’D ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9[ “H6’C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 7@4FD:?8 @? AC6G6?E:@?[” w2== D2:5]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm(92E E96 @77:46 :D F?=:<6=J E@ 5@[ D96 D2:5[ :D 4C62E6 ?6H DFCG6JD 2?5 4@==64E 52E2 E92E E96 rsr 5@6D ?@E 2=C625J EC24<] xE H@F=5 36 2 “AC6EEJ 4@DE=J” F?56CE2<:?8[ D96 D2:5] “x E9:?< H92E H@F=5 36 >@C6 :>A24E7F= :D E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 A6@A=6 E92E 2C6 2=C625J 5@:?8 E92E 2?5 96=A E96> 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 E92E CFC2= 4@?E6IE]”k^Am kAm#FC2= 52E2 2?2=JD:D A@D6D 492==6?86D 3642FD6 @7 E96 D>2==6C D:K6 @7 CFC2= A@AF=2E:@? 46?E6CD 4@>A2C65 H:E9 E96 =2C86C A@AF=2E:@?D @7 FC32? 2C62D] u@C :?DE2?46[ D>2== 4@>>F?:E:6D >:89E ?@E 92G6 256BF2E6 C6DA@?D6 C2E6D E@ DFCG6JD[ H9:49 42? =:>:E E96 4@?4=FD:@?D C6D62C496CD 42? >2<6 23@FE E96 52E2]k^Am kAm|:4926= |6:E[ 4@\5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C #FC2= w62=E9 #6D62C49 2E t2DE %6??6DD66 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ D2:5 E96 a_`f D6C:6D 96=A65 E@ >:E:82E6 E96 “D>2== ?F>36CD” 492==6?86[ H96C6:? D2>A=6D 2C6?’E =2C86 6?@F89 E@ 36 AC@A6C=J 2?2=JK65 3642FD6 CFC2= 2C62D 92G6 D>2==6C A@AF=2E:@?D]k^AmkAmt249 @7 E96 D6C:6D’ C6A@CED @FE=:?65 52E2 =:>:E2E:@?D DF49 2D D>2== ?F>36CD 2?5 E96:C 67764E @? E96 2?2=JD:D[ H9:49 D9@HD E96 rsr H2D “2=C625J AFD9:?8 7@CH2C5 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 3C:?8 G@:46 E@ E96D6 :DDF6D[” |6:E D2:5] “x E9:?< E92E 3J :ED6=7 :D 9F86]”k^Am kAmw2==[ E96 24E:?8 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 E96C6 :D?’E 2 D:>A=6 D@=FE:@? E@ 492==6?86D =:<6 D>2== D2>A=6 D:K6D 3FE E92E E96 “rsr’D ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 42? H@C< E@ 9:89=:89E 4C62E:G6 D@=FE:@?D 36:?8 56G6=@A65[ DF49 2D @FC !{prt$ AC@;64E]” !{prt$[ @C !@AF=2E:@? {6G6= p?2=JD:D 2?5 r@>>F?:EJ tDE:>2E6D[ :D 2 4@==23@C2E:@? 2>@?8 E96 rsr[ #@36CE (@@5 y@9?D@? u@F?52E:@?[ 2?5 rsr u@F?52E:@? E92E C6=62D6D 52E2 7@C D>2==6C 4:E:6D 2?5 CFC2= 2C62D] Wzuu w62=E9 }6HD C646:G6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<77962=E9?6HD]@C8^23@FE\FD^Qm7F?5:?8 DFAA@CEk^2m 7C@> E96 #@36CE (@@5 y@9?D@? u@F?52E:@?]Xk^Am kAmp?@E96C 492==6?86 H:E9 CFC2= 962=E9 52E2 :D E92E D>2== ?F>36CD 42? >2<6 :E A@DD:3=6 E@ :56?E:7J H9@ :? 2 A2CE:4F=2C 4@>>F?:EJ :D :?4=F565 :? 52E2] qFE E96 rsr 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?49D^52E2^>:D4^DE277>2?F2=a__c]A57QmC6DEC:4E:@?D :? A=246k^2m E@ AC6G6?E E92E 7C@> 92AA6?:?8]k^Am kAm$@>6E:>6D[ E9@F89[ E96 286?4J 5@6D 2==@H C6D62C496CD E@ 2446DD 7:=6D 4@?E2:?:?8 56E2:=D =:<6 “C246 @C 6E9?:4:EJ 7@C D>2== 2?5 9:89=J G:D:3=6 8C@FAD” 2?5 “6IEC6>6 G2=F6D @7 :?4@>6 2?5 286]”k^Am kAmz6:E9 |F6==6C[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 #FC2= !@=:4J #6D62C49 x?DE:EFE6[ 9@A6D E96 ~77:46 @7 #FC2= w62=E9 H:== >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C C6D62C496CD E@ 2446DD E92E >@C6 56E2:=65 52E2]k^Am kAm“%96C6 H@F=5 36 D@>63@5J 2E E96 286?4J H9@ 42? 86E 2E E96 52E2[ H9@ 42? 96=A FD 2?DH6C E96 C6D62C49 BF6DE:@?[” 96 D2:5] “r@==23@C2E:G6 H@C< 36EH66? A6@A=6 :? E96 7:6=5 2?5 A6@A=6 :? E96 286?4J H9@ 92G6 E96 5:C64E 2446DD E@ E96 52E2 :D 72C >@C6 C625:=J 2G2:=23=6 @C =:<6=J E@ 92AA6? H:E9 E9:D ?6H @77:46]”k^Am kAm$:?46 E96 @77:46 :D 32D65 :? E96 rsr’D ?6H !F3=:4 w62=E9 x?7C2DECF4EFC6 r6?E6C[ H9:49 =2F?4965 :? u63CF2CJ[ w2== D2:5 :E’D H6== A@D:E:@?65 E@ A2CE?6C H:E9 C6D62C496CD] %96 46?E6C >2?286D E96 286?4J’D A2CE?6CD9:A 8C2?ED[ H9:49 2C6 2H2C565 E@ @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E A=2? E@ :>AC@G6 AF3=:4 962=E9 D6CG:46D]k^Am kAmw2== D2:5 E96 @77:46’D >@DE :>>65:2E6 AC:@C:E:6D[ E9@F89[ 2C6 E@ 8C@H E96 DE277 36J@?5 :ED 4FCC6?E E9C66 >6>36CD 2?5 E@ 56G6=@A E96 rsr’D DEC2E68:4 A=2? 7@C CFC2= 962=E9]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<77962=E9?6HD]@C8^23@FE\FDQmzuu w62=E9 }6HDk^2m :D 2 ?2E:@?2= ?6HDC@@> E92E AC@5F46D :?\56AE9 ;@FC?2=:D> 23@FE 962=E9 :DDF6D 2?5 :D @?6 @7 E96 4@C6 @A6C2E:?8 AC@8C2>D 2E zuu—2? :?56A6?56?E D@FC46 @7 962=E9 A@=:4J C6D62C49[ A@==:?8[ 2?5 ;@FC?2=:D>] {62C? >@C6 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<77]@C8^23@FE\FD^Qmzuuk^2m]k^Am k9bm&$t ~&# r~}%t}%k^9bm kAm%9:D DE@CJ 42? 36 C6AF3=:D965 7@C 7C66 Wk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<77962=E9?6HD]@C8^?6HD^2CE:4=6^454\?6H\7F?5:?8\CFC2=\962=E9\@77:46\52E2^G:6H^C6AF3=:D9^Qm56E2:=Dk^2mX]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story