The Volunteer Roadmap · 2026-06-15 · 42 min
The greatest predictor of poor health in America isn't genetics or lifestyle… It's poverty. And what causes poverty? Two things: lack of jobs and lack of education. Which means the conversation we should be having about healthcare in Tennessee isn't just about doctors and hospitals - it's about how we create good jobs, especially in our rural communities. In this episode I'm sitting down with Dr. Randy Wykoff, Founding Dean of ETSU's College of Public Health, to talk about how economic development and public health are inseparable. After 20 years serving Central Appalachia, Randy has a clear view of what Tennessee gets right, what we're missing, and what it would take to actually move the needle. In this episode, Dr. Wykoff shares: Why creating jobs in rural communities would do more for public health than almost anything else Why investing in public health actually saves taxpayer money Why public health isn't political (and what we lose when we treat it that way) Tennessee has both some of the richest and poorest counties in America. We have the resources - we just have to get them to the people who need them. Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com
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