Tying well-researched best practices to rural health equity, Dr. Hughes explores true stories of the resiliency and ingenuity of rural communities amidst the formidable challenges of a pandemic. She will share the lessons learned from key informant interviews with rural health leaders and patients as she and others crafted a nationally-released playbook called “Re-Imagining Leadership: A Pathway for Rural Health to Thrive in a COVID-19 World.” Her informative message will inspire and empower both rural and urban health leaders to critically think about how to approach and own their solutions.