The NYSARH Research and Policy Program was established with a clear vision—to construct a robust policy platform for rural health in New York State. Recognizing that effective advocacy requires both knowledge and voice, the program aimed to foster a formal process for vetting policy stances and solidifying the organization’s position on crucial matters. It addressed the pressing question: “What does NYSARH think…? Who speaks for NYSARH?”

We are thrilled to highlight the work of Gregory Forlenza, who recently shared his research and policy findings via a presentation titled “Informed Policy Recommendations to Solve the Mental Health Workforce Shortage in Rural NY.” Gregory is currently finalizing his manuscript entitled “The Mental Health Workforce Shortage in Rural New York State” in preparation for review by NYSARH’s Education, Policy, and Board Committees. 

Dominick Forlenza began a project investigating rural disparities in cancer care. Due to work constraints, Dom partnered with Edneraldine/Edna Simon to continue working on “Rural-Urban Disparities Across the Cancer Care Continuum: Strategies for Advancing Health Equity and Improving Public Health in Rural New York”

Edneraldine [Edna] Simon is a graduate student at SUNY  Buffalo who interned with NYSARH for the Spring semester. She provided Policy Statements on food security and school meals and  completed the work that Dom had begun on “Rural Disparities in Cancer Screening.”

All three Fellows provided valuable support during the Public Health Partnership Conference ensuring that the Virtual attendees [many of whom were NYSARH members] were able to participate in the experience.

Through their roles as Research & Policy Fellows, Greg, Dom and Edna have delved into the intricacies of a significant issue— rural health disparities in New York. Their efforts involved gathering extensive knowledge, examining existing research, and engaging with various stakeholders to gain valuable insights into this complex problem.They then made recommendations for viable solutions to address these challenges.