Education

Recent Webinars & Educational Events

Recent IRHA Webinars

• Webinar: Building an Age-Friendly Health System for Iowa’s Fastest Growing Patient Populations (August 11th and 13th, 2026)

  This one-hour session explored strategies for strengthening care for Iowans living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, with a focus on evidence-based approaches to dementia care and improving patient outcomes. The webinar highlighted strategies for addressing the growing population of older Iowans living with dementia while supporting organizational patient care goals. Participants gained insight into developing strategic approaches to dementia care and aligning clinical practices with CMS quality and payment initiatives.

  Webinar recording linked HERE. 

• Rural Maternal Health in Iowa: Progress & Pathways Forward (Oct. 21, 2025)

  This one-hour session explored maternal health trends and disparities across Iowa, with a focus on the unique challenges faced in rural communities. The webinar highlighted emerging data, community-driven initiatives, and collaborative efforts through the Maternal Health Centers of Excellence. Participants gained insight into how healthcare providers, public health experts, and community leaders are working together to advance equity and improve care for mothers and families across the state.

• Cancer Care in Rural Iowa FREE Webinar: Data, Disparities, and Driving Solutions (Sept. 30, 2025)

  This dynamic one-hour session explored cancer trends and disparities across Iowa, with a focus on the unique challenges faced in rural communities. Experts from the Iowa Cancer Consortium and the Rural Policy Research Institute shared the latest data, collaborative strategies, and innovative programs designed to expand prevention, screening, and treatment access. Highlights included an update on the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project, showcasing county-level insights and opportunities for action. Participants gained valuable takeaways on how health professionals, researchers, advocates, students, and community partners can work together to reduce disparities and strengthen rural cancer care. Webinar recording linked here.

• Voices of Care: Challenges & Innovations in Rural Caregiving (Sept. 3, 2025)
  Rural caregiving presents unique challenges, from isolation to limited resources. This webinar highlighted real-life stories and practical strategies from family caregivers, community health workers, and regional partners working to build stronger support systems.
• Resources for Rural Iowans with Disabilities (Aug. 22, 2024) – Tracy Keninger of EasterSeals Iowa shared tools and strategies to enhance disability inclusion in rural communities. The slides from the webinar are available here.
• Describing Your Community: Rural Data for Grants and Needs Assessments (May 25, 2023) – Dr. Whitney Zahnd offered practical methods to use local data in developing competitive grant proposals. Webinar recording linked here. Webinar slides linked here.

Recent Rural Health Webinars