Beyond the Funding: The People Behind Rural Health Transformation

As of October 3, Rural Care Journey reflects:

723 consolidated public opportunities across all 50 states plus federal activity
791 indexed vendors
16,700+ healthcare entities
Nearly $1 billion in currently open or closing funding

Those numbers are encouraging.

But after months of building RCJ, the most important thing I have learned is harder to measure: the people.

Behind every opportunity are applicants trying to build something. Behind every vendor profile are people who have spent years solving difficult healthcare problems. Behind every award are clinicians, EMS teams, educators, community organizations, technology companies, and local leaders who ultimately have to make the work succeed.

The more conversations I have, the more I believe rural health transformation will depend not only on funding or technology, but also on connecting the right people, building local capacity, and creating relationships that continue after the funding ends.

That is increasingly what I want Rural Care Journey to become—not simply a database of opportunities, but a place where people who need help can find people who know how to help.

If you work in rural healthcare, are pursuing an RHTP opportunity, or have a capability that could help rural organizations implement one, I hope you will join the conversation here.

I shared the longer reflection on Substack:

Beyond the Funding: The People Behind Rural Health Transformation

2 Replies

Ava Jones, PhD, MSM, RN· 7d ago

Hello, San! Wow! Thank you for sharing this reflection. The numbers are impressive, but it is your observation about the people behind the numbers that really resonated with me.

Behind every award, initiative, technology, workflow, and milestone are human beings who ultimately have to turn an idea into something that works for a community.

I appreciate your vision for Rural Care Journey becoming more than a place where opportunities are found, but a place where people who need help can find people who know how to help. Yes! That is powerful.

I continue to believe that people and relationships are not simply supports for rural health transformation.

They are part of its infrastructure.

Funding may launch an initiative. Technology may enable it. Strategy may guide it. Relationships help people navigate the inevitable gaps between the plan and what happens in practice.

Perhaps one of the most important measures of success will come after the funding period ends:

What capacity, connections, knowledge, and relationships remain because the investment was made?

Thank you for your vision, leadership, and building a community where those connections can begin. I am grateful to be part of it and excited to see where this journey leads!

Sincerely, Ava

San Lee· 6d ago

Thank you, Ava. I really appreciate this thoughtful response. 🙏

I completely agree with your point that relationships are not just supporting infrastructure — they are part of the infrastructure itself. 🤝

Funding can create momentum, technology can expand capacity, and strategy can provide direction, but it is the people and relationships that help turn those pieces into something that actually works in a community. 🌱

Your question about what remains after the funding ends is exactly the one I keep coming back to. If stronger local capacity, trusted partnerships, shared knowledge, and new connections remain, then the investment will have created something much more durable than a temporary project. ❤️

I’m very grateful to have you as part of this journey and community, and excited to see where it leads. 🚀