Xi Zhu is co-PI with Keith Mueller on a study to determine the role rural communities and hospitals play in building a local Culture of Health. The project aims to develop an understanding of community and health system characteristics associated with a Culture of Health and to identify strategies to lead the change toward building a local Culture of Health in rural communities. It will combine an analysis of national data with case studies of selected rural communities. The researchers look to identify community characteristics and innovations that have made significant impacts on population health, well-being, and equity, along with strategies that rural hospitals and broad-based community coalitions can use to achieve and sustain a Culture of Health.

Funding for this project comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.