Episode 034: Tim Marema, An Innovative Voice for Rural Community Wellness

In episode 34 of A Medicinal Mind: Wisdom and Wellbeing, I remain in the “non-medical world” exploring rural community wellness with pioneering activist and Vice President of the Center for Rural Strategies: Tim Marema.

Tim Marema is editor of the Daily Yonder, a news site published by the Center for Rural Strategies that covers rural economics, politics and culture using professional journalists, community correspondents, scholars, and a wide range of policy advocates..

In our conversation, Tim and I explore the life of the rural community, beginning with Tim’s very own life story growing up in small rural community in Kentucky. Asking and answering questions such as

From the perspective of a rural community what is your definition of health and how do we cultivate it?

What are the biggest barriers to wellness within rural communities,

and

How as clinicians and advocates can we empower and support communities and protect cultural and geographic heritage?​

Tim shares with us the work of the visionary non-profit Rural Strategies: an organization seeking to improve economic and social conditions for communities in the countryside through the creative and innovative use of media and communications.

We then close the conversation with an exploration of faith and Tim’s story of spirituality, reflecting on the importance of spiritual institutions for creating social engagement, wellness and a space for finding joy.

I am so thankful for connecting with Tim and for all the members of Rural Strategies for their selfless work advocating and promoting the health of rural communities. As many of you know, I am currently in my family medicine residency training in Front Royal Va, a rural community itself with the greater Shenandoah Valley area, and rural health and wellness is certainly something close to my heart.

I really hope you enjoy the show!

Hear more about Tim and his great work using these links:

https://www.ruralstrategies.org

http://www.dailyyonder.com

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