Power of Communications #1: Navigating Conflict and Communication Issues with Teams and Partners in Rural Settings (Live Training-No CE)

Live Training - February 26, 2026 from 12-1:30 PM EST (Registration closes at 8 AM EST on February 26th. The Zoom link will be emailed prior to the start.)

PLEASE NOTE: No CE or a certificate of completion is available in this free course. If you are interested in earning CE and/or a certificate for a fee, please enroll in the paid CE version: https://phprepared.catalog.instructure.com/courses/poc1w0226ce

This live training is part 1 of a 4-part series on rural health communications. This first session is about navigating conflict and communication issues with teams and partners. Rural health professionals navigate unique communication challenges: dual relationships, limited resources, and small teams where conflicts can't be avoided. This interactive session introduces the BRIDGE Framework Method™—a practical approach to navigating conflict with colleagues, community partners, and patients.

Participants will learn strategies for building trust in interconnected communities, addressing difficult topics like scope of practice and resource allocation, and protecting their wellbeing in isolated work environments.Through case studies and exercises, attendees develop skills for handling conflict without damaging the critical relationships that sustain rural healthcare. Grounded in research and rural health realities.

Note on Accessibility: This live session will have auto-transcription in Zoom. Slides will be provided prior to the session. The recorded on-demand version to follow will have closed captions as well. To request ASL interpretation and/or CART captioning, please email us within 2 weeks of the live training at phprepared@umich.edu.

Audience

Rural health professionals, public health workers, community health workers, care coordinators, and healthcare administrators working in rural or underserved settings

Learning Objectives

• Identify the unique communication challenges present in rural health settings, including limited resources, small teams, dual relationships, and geographic isolation
• Apply the BRIDGE Framework Method™ (Building Trust, Recognizing Context, Initiating Conversations, Describing Impact, Gauging Understanding, Exploring Solutions) to navigate conflict with colleagues, community partners, and patients in rural settings
• Describe how power dynamics, resource constraints, and community relationships shape communication effectiveness in rural health contexts
• Discuss strategies for building trust and psychological safety within small, interconnected rural healthcare teams where confidentiality and dual relationships complicate traditional conflict resolution approaches
• Recognize the importance of their own communication patterns under stress and self-care strategies to prevent burnout when navigating ongoing interpersonal challenges

Instructor

• Malynnda Stewart, PhD, BCPA, CEO, Conflict Mediation Consultant, Patient Advocate, Health Communication Educator, Compassionate Navigation, LLC

Sponsors

Public Health Prepared is the workforce development and public health practice branch of the broader Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats & Pandemic Preparedness (MCIDT) initiative, funded by the University of Michigan. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Public Health Prepared, MCIDT, or the University of Michigan.

This event is co-sponsored by the Region V Public Health Training Center.

The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers ($940,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Region V PHTC, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Technical Information

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This webinar will use Zoom. For support information, visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/201137166 REGISTER FOR THE TRAINING USING THE EMAIL YOU WILL USE TO JOIN THE LIVE ZOOM.

Contact us at PHPrepared@umich.edu with questions.