Rural healthcare leaders will discuss the challenges and solutions facing their communities during a featured panel at the 2026 Willcoxon Innovation in Health Sciences Summit at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU).
The panel, “Challenges in Rural Healthcare: Strategies for Success,” is part of the March 27 summit in Joplin and will bring together experienced rural healthcare professionals to share insights on improving care access, delivery, and outcomes.
Panelists include Don McBride, CEO of ACCESS Family Care, who brings extensive experience in healthcare administration and policy education; Linda Davis, a registered nurse who serves on the Quapaw Nation Business Committee and has spent more than 30 years working in tribal government and tribal health care; Sean Guiheen, nurse manager for the emergency department and medical-surgical unit at Cox Barton County Hospital, with more than a decade of rural healthcare leadership experience; Renee Denton, CEO at Freeman Neosho, with 38 years in clinical and administrative healthcare leadership; and David Smith, administrator for Mercy Pittsburg and has more than 25 years of experience at critical access hospitals.
The discussion will focus on the challenges of rural healthcare and how organizations address and overcome those challenges. Attendees will learn from the panelists’ real-world experiences, informing policy, practice, and community partnerships.
The summit begins at 7:30 a.m. with registration at the Taylor Performing Arts Center and includes keynote and breakout sessions throughout the day. The event is open to healthcare professionals, students exploring health sciences careers, and community members. Participants can register online at MSSU’s Willcoxon Summit page.
