Health on the Plains

In this episode of Health on the Plains , Wyatt Beckman sits down with Chef Steve Smith, the innovative culinary mind behind a fresh approach to food and healing at Smith County Memorial Hospital, in Kansas. Chef Steve shares how he’s transforming hospital dining by creating customized, nutritious meals designed to support patient health — a model rooted in the belief that food is medicine. His work doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. From a home meal delivery program to welcoming community members into the hospital’s on-site restaurant, Chef Steve has built a culinary ecosystem that nourishes the entire county. Discover how this small rural hospital is leading big change, and why Chef Steve hopes this model of whole-person, community-centered nutrition can be replicated across Kansas and beyond. Tune in to learn how good food — and good care — go hand in hand.

Wyatt Beckman takes us to Logan, Kansas, to visit with Logan Intergenerational Family Education (LIFE) Center leaders, David Kirkendall and Teresa McComb. The first-of-its-kind center brings together students and nursing home residents to improve educational outcomes, create a greater sense of belonging and purpose among residents, and serve as a valuable resource for the entire community. 

In episode 14 of Health on the Plains, Wyatt Beckman visits Abilene to talk with Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, about how positivity, pride and collaboration fuel rural community growth. Hear how Abilene attracts opportunities for health and beyond.  

On Health on the Plains, episode 13, Wyatt Beckman takes us down the road in Topeka, to visit Sunflower Foundation leaders Brandon Skidmore and Elizabeth Burger. They discuss the history of the foundation and their new home on Healing Hill. They share their vision for improving the health of all Kansans by investing in people, places and ideas. They touch on some of their major projects, such as the investment in trails across the state. They also discuss their collaborative work in food as medicine and integrated health, and how those programs can address needs in rural Kansas. Lastly, they provide insights into how they consider investment opportunities to fulfill their mission of serving as a catalyst for the health of all Kansans. 

In part two of our conversation with Robert Moser, M.D., Health on the Plains host Wyatt Beckman discusses with Dr. Moser the potential of telemedicine and the importance of maternal health care in rural communities. They talk about the unique challenges of maintaining obstetrics skills among rural health professionals and the unique dynamics of physician recruitment in rural communities. This episode is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Robert Moser. You may listen to part 1 in episode 11.