Ep. 48: Christina was recently named the interim director for the Center of Community Health and Development, a subcenter of the KU Life Span Institute. Christina has served as the assistant director at the center for six years before being named interim director; the current director retires in May.

Her deep experience at the center began when she was a student intern and member of the Kansas Community Leadership Corps. She has served in a variety of roles at the center for 27 years, and most recently began leading a CCHD project in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation focused on workforce and economic development.

Listen now, and learn how Christina is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/

Ep. 47: Brenda Bandy serves as the executive director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition. She oversees KBC’s programs, working across sectors to build support and remove barriers for breastfeeding families.

She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and former La Leche League volunteer.

In this episode, she discusses her passion for breastfeeding, the benefits of breastfeeding, the business case for breastfeeding and much more!

Listen now, and learn how Brenda is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/

Ep. 46: Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD, FAAFP, is a family physician in her hometown of Fredonia, Kansas, a community of approximately 2,200 people. She has owned and managed her practice Fredonia Family Care alongside her father and other great colleagues since 2009. McKenney was named the 2021 Rural Health Practitioner of the Year by the National Rural Health Association and received the Early Career Achievement Award by the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2021.

McKenney is currently the associate dean for rural medical education for the KU School of Medicine. She also serves as the Wilson County health officer and is co-chair of the statewide Health Officers of Kansas group.

She was a member of the USD 484 school board, serving as the president for two years. She is a past president of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians and was the resident member of the AAFP Board of Directors. She serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Health Foundation and is on the medical staff at Fredonia Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. She has made numerous appearances on national and local news covering COVID-19 and rural health.

Listen now, and learn how Dr. McKenney is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/