Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center Mercer University School of Medicine

05/25/2026

Today, in observance of Memorial Day, our office is closed. We honor and remember those who have fallen in service of our country.

We will reopen Tuesday, May 26.

05/22/2026

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Maternal Health Symposium on June 25. This free event will bring together licensed counselors, educators and maternal health professionals to share expert insights, practical resources and evidence-based strategies that support maternal care and wellness.

🔗 Register today: garuralhealth.link/symposium

05/21/2026

Mercer University School of Medicine and its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, with continued support from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, are expanding the Kids Alliance for Better Care ( ), a statewide rural pediatric health initiative, for the fourth consecutive year. The program welcomes seven new rural hospitals.

Read More: https://den.mercer.edu/musm-grhic-select-rural-hospitals-for-year-four-of-kidsabc-program/

Appling Healthcare | Dorminy Medical Center | Emanuel Medical Center | Memorial Hospital and Manor | Phoebe Sumter Medical Center | SGMC Health Lanier | Union General Hospital

Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) and its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC), with continued support from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s)…

05/20/2026

Last week, rural hospital emergency departments participating in KidsABC had another day of pediatric emergency care training at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital. The training provided additional education and resources to help strengthen pediatric care in their communities and included clinical simulation sessions on pediatric assessment, developmentally appropriate communication, IV placement and recognizing patient deterioration.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center | Dorminy Medical Center | Emanuel Medical Center | Stephens County Hospital | Union General Hospital

05/15/2026

05/11/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional or behavioral health condition.

Learn more about pediatric mental health, including recognizing anxiety and depressive disorders in children and strategies for early management, from William Powers, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: garuralhealth.link/PAWS-mental

05/07/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us May 12 to learn how the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance is working to strengthen mental health support, well-being and safety for Georgia’s farmers and rural communities through statewide partnerships, programs and outreach efforts.

🔗 Bookmark this link and join us on Zoom: gafarmstress.org/healthy-mindset

05/06/2026

Scenes from this past weekend’s Washington County Regional Medical Center Emergency Department celebration. Students from Mercer University School of Medicine also took part by hosting a teddy bear clinic and leading a pig lung demonstration on the harms of smoking

More on this celebration: garuralhealth.link/washington

05/05/2026

The Washington County Regional Medical Center Emergency Department was recognized for its commitment to strengthening pediatric emergency care during a celebration event on May 2. The hospital was celebrated for reaching key milestones as a participant of the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC). Established in 2023, the alliance is a collaboration between Mercer University School of Medicine, its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Healthy hometowns start with healthy kids!

READ MORE: garuralhealth.link/washington

05/05/2026

On May 13, Jonathan Popler, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, will lead a free training on asthma and respiratory Infections. The session is part of the Pediatric Alliance Webinar Series, a monthly program featuring subject-matter experts on a range of topics. Participants can earn free CME and CNE credits.

Register today: garuralhealth.link/PAWS

05/01/2026

Yesterday, KidsABC held a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) simulation training at Mercer University for rural hospitals. Using real-life scenarios, staff practiced assessment and interventions to prepare for neonatal resuscitation emergencies at birth.

The training included airway positioning, bag-valve-mask ventilation, vascular access and medication administration, along with skills stations on respiratory distress and team-based care for health care professionals attending deliveries.

Thank you to the hospitals that attended: Clinch Memorial Hospital | Elbert Memorial Hospital | Evans Memorial Hospital | Monroe County Hospital | St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital