Insider advice for researchers and patients responding to federal agency requests
AcademyHealth’s advocacy team has worked with federal agencies on how our field can more effectively respond to Requests for Information (RFIs).
Kayla Alvis, AcademyHealth's Fall 2023 Health Policy Fellow, recently obtained her Ph.D. in Rural Sociology with an interdisciplinary specialization in Demography from The Ohio State University. Her educational journey includes a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi and a master's in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Kayla's research primarily focuses on the social determinants of health, rural health disparities, and disability health. Her dissertation delved into analyzing health outcomes for individuals with disabilities based on their rural residency and county context. In the 2022-2023 academic year, she served as a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellow at Ohio State's Nisonger Center, where she contributed to research addressing the Direct Support Professional labor shortage crisis for individuals with disabilities. Kayla also actively contributes as a board member of the Ohio Rural Health Association, leading stakeholder engagement efforts to enhance healthcare access in rural areas within the state. She has also conducted research with the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network focused on reproductive health in rural Appalachia.
Before pursuing her Ph.D., Kayla earned her master's degree and gained clinical experience working with children with developmental disabilities in various settings across the United States. Kayla's dedication lies in leveraging rigorous research to advance evidence-based policy. Her unique background offers a distinct perspective on bridging the gap between research, clinical practice, and policy.
Authored by Kayla Alvis, Ph.D., M.S.
The Need for Better Definitions and Data on “Rural” in Health Services Research
Diverse definitions of rurality among government agencies make it difficult to understand rural health. Standardizing definitions and collecting data on disparities within and between rural communities are important for researchers to better inform policy and practice.
Individuals with Disabilities in Rural America: The Need for Health Services Research
Individuals with disabilities face many health disparities, as do rural residents. The recent NIH designation of people with disabilities as a population with health disparities presents a needed opportunity for robust research at the intersection of disability, rurality, and health.
How and Why Federal Policymakers Should Support Research on Rural Hospital Closures
Rural hospital closures impact access to care for many rural Americans who may already experience health disparities. Policymakers can help address this crisis by funding research on the implications and evaluating alternative models of care.