OUR VISION

Our mission is to shed light on the disparities in cancer care affecting rural communities and champion innovative solutions to close this gap.

We envision a future where every rural American facing cancer receives equitable health care, ensuring no one is left behind in the journey toward healing and recovery. 

OUR WHY

Rural communities face higher poverty, lower educational attainment, and fewer public health resources than urban areas. Social determinants of health—like food deserts, transportation barriers, and limited job opportunities—strongly impact rural well-being.

Rural America is diverse, with varying health outcomes across regions and populations, including Blacks in the South, Latinos in the West, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

Rural residents are more likely to be uninsured, exposed to environmental hazards from agriculture and industry, and to lack broadband and telehealth access. Medical mistrust, misinformation, and discrimination further limit care.

Infrastructure challenges—especially scarce public transportation, hospitals, and specialty care—force many to travel long distances for services. Reliance on single-industry economies also leads to instability and persistent poverty.

Despite these barriers, rural communities show strong resilience and social connection. Improving infrastructure, broadband, transportation, and social supports is essential to advancing rural health.

The Geography of Survival: My Fight with Cancer and the Road to Change

In a TEDxKU talk, RCI Co-Founder Dr. Zachary Schroeder shares the story of his fight with cancer, explores drivers of and solutions to the rural cancer gap, and discusses rural oncology as a viable career path.

MEET OUR ADVISORS

  • Jasmine Kamboj, MD

    Mayo Clinic

  • Isaac Chambers, MD

    HaysMed

  • Ruiling Yuan, MD

    Self Regional Healthcare

  • Tom Mueller, MS, PhD

    Kansas Center of Rural Health

  • Aquino Williams, MD

    Lakewood Health Systems

  • Jack Hensold, MD FASCO

    ASCO

  • Lori Rosenstein, MD

    Emplify Health

MEET OUR BOARD

  • Wade Swenson, MD

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

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  • Emily McGovern, DO

    CO-FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

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  • Abby Swenson

    CO-FOUNDER

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  • Zack Schroeder, MD

    CO-FOUNDER & TREASURER

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  • Josh Pritchett, MD

    BOARD CHAIR

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MEET OUR DIRECTORS

  • Caroline Schroeder, MA

    Director

  • Ingrid Jacobson, MPH

    Director of Research

  • Aquino Williams, MD

    Director of Mission Support and Advisory

  • Samson Mah

    Director of Special Projects

  • Sahil Prakash

    Co-Director of Educational and Research Fellowship

  • Andrew Armstrong

    Co-Director of the Educational and Research Fellowship

  • Payton Markley, MD

    Director of Screening and Prevention in Rural Areas

Rural Cancer Institute is proud to be a member of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance. The Minnesota Cancer Alliance is a broad partnership of organizations and leaders from across Minnesota. The mission of the organization is to reduce the burden of cancer for all people living in Minnesota by working together to promote the goals of Cancer Plan Minnesota.